It does seem tough and complex to vote this time around.

Why? Because ALL of those running as 'conservatives' have ALL stabbed conservatives in the back at one time or another. At some point in their careers ALL of them have caved to the liberals at least once. At some point in their careers ALL of them have lied to we the people as well at least once. So how do you trust the people who can be easily bought with enough cash? How can we trust they will actually do what they are campaigning they will do when they have a history of lying to us, caving to the left, and screwing the people who voted for them?

I have to say I don't trust any of them. I can't count on any of them actually doing what they claim they will.

At this point I can only vote for the guy who 'might' stand against the powers that be who are actively seeking to destroy this nation and take my freedom from me. He may not be 100% conservative, neither is any of the other candidates. He 'might' have had different platforms and ideas in the past than he is claiming now - so did Reagan. People can change their political views. So the person with changed political views 'might' not be trustworthy. Then again those who easily cave to what the establishment wants or caves to whoever has the biggest cash wad isn't trustworthy either. So what am I left with?

A less than 100% perfect candidate is what I am left with. At this point - the candidate who will cram a finger in the eye of the political cabal that has taken over Washington has my vote. And if that's Trump who 'might' accomplish this..............then Trump it is.

Exactly right, CG. They've all had their chance to do something, if they wanted to. Instead all they've done is put us further behind the 8-ball.

For that matter, "Politicians" have had since 1986 to correct Reagan's blunder. My understanding is that he certainly regretted trusting them.

I say let the NON-politician have his chance. He certainly couldn't do worse, and he could do much better.

Dittoes...bring on the wrecking ball!

It appears Trump has captured the hearts of most of my fellow porchers primarily because he's an outsider who might "cram a finger in the eye of the political cabal that has taken over Washington". While I certainly can't disagree with those sentiments I am just sick to death of being betrayed by Republicans who fail to do what they say they will do, and, quite frankly, I am not convinced of Trump's bona fides. The guy has been all over the place when it comes to political issues, only recently emerging as a Conservative.

However, there is one candidate who fills the role of outsider who unquestioningly "will cram a finger in the eye of the political cabal that has taken over Washington." and that is Ted Cruz. I don't doubt Conservative principles for one minute and, if you want a finger crammer, consider how he's already dealt with the leadership of the House, especially McConnell/Boehner. Plus the guy is brilliant and thankfully is nowhere near as bombastic as Trump.

The long and short of it: I much prefer Cruz though might consider voting Trump if that is my only choice.

Cincy, I like Cruz but what I know of his immigration stand makes me queasy. Being from Southern California, that's sort of like saying, "Other than that, Mrs. Lincoln, how was the play?

I also don't know WHAT the heck was going on with that TPP/trade bill vote. Sounds like he didn't either, based on the after-the-fact public reaming he gave McConnell. That doesn't sit too well with me either but, regardless, if he were the Republican nominee I would vote for him (assuming Trump didn't run 3rd party).

Below is a little essay I recently wrote that might provide a some insight on why women seem to climbing aboard Train Trump:

Everyone and their brother is struggling to grasp why women are gravitating to Donald Trump. Can it be that difficult? As Martin Crane once observed , "Frasier, life is not that hard...you MAKE it hard." Stop overthinking, people!

Simply, after years of dealing with metrosexuals, the New Castrati, and RINO spineless cowards, paralyzed by Political Correctness, and abused by the policies of The Boy King and his cohorts, and seeing the total mess this country has become as a result, women are hungering for a fixer. Just a plain-speaking, tough-as-nails guy to rush in and DO something, anything...someone to act first and ask Trivial Pursuit questions later.

Some say, "John Wayne." Close, but not quite. The awful truth is, sometimes a girl just wants Sonny Corleone. Someone whose instincts compel him rush to the rescue, with all due speed and sometimes at his own peril, of the damsel in distress.

To just plain folks, Trump is seen as capable of rolling up his sleeves and getting down in the dirt to really fight for what he wants. Democrats are accomplished at this, yet the GOP seems never to want to soil its white gloves and go to the mat. How pathetic that the GOP elites have no clue how badly Americans - especially women - yearn for our side to really bring it. The truth is the badder The Donald is, the more we want him to knock a few more blocks off and WIN...for us, dammit!

In short, we're Adrianne, and he's our Rocky.

At least that's my story, and I'm sticking to it.

Oh, that is a good essay, TK, well stated and I see your point.

Btw, another problem I have with Cruz is that he voted for the Corker bill which made the Iran agreement possible. That was a huge mistake. Still and all, he has had to, as a Senator, publically vote on a variety of issues. Trump has not and, be honest, hasn't actually given much in the way of details of just what he believes or what he will accomplish as Prez. Moreover, that comment about Carly's face really, really offended me. It was stupid and uncalled for. Cruz may have a record of a few bum votes which shows bad judgement, but that comment by Trump makes me wonder what kinds of judgements he will employ should he become President.

This should delight and amuse Trump supporters and pretty much everyone else, I think.

Oh yes, the Carly face thing. I've wanted to say something about that for a week, but have been too busy.

As a Californian, I've watched Carly closely for a few years, since she ran against Barbara Boxer in 2010. She has had noticeable plastic surgery, which has relevance IMO.

Even though I think Carly is a RINO, she is very articulate - no "and ums" or "y'knows" - so I enjoy listening to her...she's easy on the ears. I also love her slams against Hillary Clinton...can't get enough of those.

A couple of days before Trump's infamous comment broke, I happened to be paying especially close attention to her face...I'm a bigtime face watcher. I actually commented to my sister that I was surprised she didn't have better plastic surgery with all her money. When she speaks her mouth is always in a straight, very hard line and her lower lip sticks out unnaturally. Not attractive, but it didn't used to look like that...maybe she had lip augmentation thrown in.

In addition, when she is speaking intently her eyes get real squinty which accentuates the vertical line between them, and which makes her face look very pinched. It also seems to me that, while she is speaking intently, she rarely smiles. She comes off as very serious - sometimes in a lecturing manner - and it does show on her face.

JUST MY OPINION but her new look gives her the appearance of a scold when she is speaking intently. Personally, I liked her face better in 2010 but I don't have anything against plastic surgery. Just lousy plastic surgery.

Anyway, back to my conversation with my sister. Believe it or not I said, "How would you like to see that face yapping at you all the time?" We had a good laugh because she replied, "I'd rather look at hers all the time rather than Hillary's ONCE."

Bottom line here...so IF Trump was thinking and observing what I was...and granted, that is a big IF...it speaks more to her "persona" than her actual physical attractiveness. Notice he did not use the word "ugly' at all. I also do not find her ugly. Then again, maybe he does think she is ugly. How do I know?

Lastly, he tossed this comment out in his home, HOWEVER, the reporter was present. Agreed, very bad move. He needs to keep a lid on a lot of the commentary from now on because it will all be reported with relish. (I am quite sure he would never have said this while out on the campaign trail.)

I guess it's a good I don't have reporters following me around. I'd burn their ears...I am SO "not PC," as evidenced by the fact that this is not a big deal to me. If ladies want to get in the kitchen they need to learn to take the heat. There are issues out there that are SO much more important to me.

P.S. Would it have killed that reporter to have kept this off the record? It only hurt Carly's feelings. No one ever mentions that, nor the fact that reporters actually ask her about this on camera. Talk about coldhearted. But if they had a little class there wouldn't be a story, and "if it bleeds, it leads."

Quote: algernonpj wrote in post #25

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Here's my view of Cruz:

Cruz is not a natural born citizen. Obviously his political ambition is more important than the constitution and rule of law.

He has pimped for fast track for Obama because 'Historically, since FDR virtually every president has had fast track authority. . There's a great reason to Obama more power.

Cruz supports so called free trade agreements because'“TPA is what the Senate voted on recently,” Cruz continued. “I voted in favor of fast track because I support free trade. I think free trade benefits America. It creates jobs–opening markets to our farmers, to our ranchers, to our manufacturers, improves economic growth.'

That'll make his international corporate donors happy.

Ted Cruz Channels Paul Ryan: ‘A Lot of Misinformation’ on Obamatrade That ‘You Can Get on the Internet’
http://www.breitbart.com/big-government/...n-the-internet/

Cruz is for increasing H-1B visas by a factor of FIVE. That'll also make his corporate donors happy... replace Americans with CHEAP, DESPERATE foreign labor.

Ted Cruz, the presidential candidate who wants to increase the H-1B cap by 500%
http://www.computerworld.com/article/290...cap-by-500.html

Cruz's wife and life partner raises lots of red flags:
Heidi is an international investment banker who was invited to be part of a working group at the CFR which reviewed a notorious 2005 paper called “Building a North American Community.” This project was headed by longtime CFR member Robert Pastor and is universally regarded by constitutionalists as the prototype for a North American Union.

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Quote: algernonpj wrote in post #25

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Here's my view of Cruz:

Cruz is not a natural born citizen. Obviously his political ambition is more important than the constitution and rule of law.

He has pimped for fast track for Obama because 'Historically, since FDR virtually every president has had fast track authority. . There's a great reason to Obama more power.

Cruz supports so called free trade agreements because'“TPA is what the Senate voted on recently,” Cruz continued. “I voted in favor of fast track because I support free trade. I think free trade benefits America. It creates jobs–opening markets to our farmers, to our ranchers, to our manufacturers, improves economic growth.'

That'll make his international corporate donors happy.

Ted Cruz Channels Paul Ryan: ‘A Lot of Misinformation’ on Obamatrade That ‘You Can Get on the Internet’
http://www.breitbart.com/big-government/...n-the-internet/

Cruz is for increasing H-1B visas by a factor of FIVE. That'll also make his corporate donors happy... replace Americans with CHEAP, DESPERATE foreign labor.

Ted Cruz, the presidential candidate who wants to increase the H-1B cap by 500%
http://www.computerworld.com/article/290...cap-by-500.html

Cruz's wife and life partner raises lots of red flags:
Heidi is an international investment banker who was invited to be part of a working group at the CFR which reviewed a notorious 2005 paper called “Building a North American Community.” This project was headed by longtime CFR member Robert Pastor and is universally regarded by constitutionalists as the prototype for a North American Union.

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Zitat

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This has been before SCOTUS and has been long upheld and used since Washington. Thus this is NOT a giving of power to the President but a way to keep him in check. It does not allow anything to be done in US law about immigration. The TPA REQUIRES that once an agreement is negotiated (the TPP) It MUST be put out to the public and the people’s representatives for at least 60 days to even be legal. Once all the representatives and people who want to read it all, it can be voted on. Up or down.. No amendments for the reasons I stated above. It is nothing new.

http://www.examiner.com/article/tpa-taa-...you-pt2?cid=rss

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And, regarding Heidi Cruz:

Zitat

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Anatomy of a Smear: Heidi Cruz and the “North American Union”

I could go after the ridiculousness of tainting Cruz because his immigrant father fought with Castro as a teenager in Cuba, or because his law firm defended a Chinese tire company in a patent suit, or because he has taken some campaign money from arch-devil of the conspiracy fringe Goldman-Sachs. None of these other attacks make any sense, but there’s one attack which I find more offensive and which is right up my ally because of my past writings on the subject.

You see, it turns out that according to a whisper campaign coming from Dewhurst or Addison or perhaps direct from the John Birch Society, Ted Cruz’ wife is one of the architects of the dreaded “North American Union.” The JBS is the most likely original source in a now-deleted article in the online version of their New American magazine called “Faux Neo-Conservatives Defend North American Union.”

http://blogcritics.org/anatomy-of-a-smear-heidi-cruz/

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