Ted Cruz, The Donald, and Birthers

[kevin]

One of the joys of this campaign season is watching a-holes get reamed by their own actions and hypocrisies.

Canadian born U.S. Senator Ted Cruz was one of the voices claiming Obama was not eligible to be president because he was not born here, and his father was Kenyan. Cruz danced around the issue for years stopping just short of calling the president out, saying he did not know where Obama was born etc., anything to demean the president.

It has always been known that Cruz was himself foreign born - Canada being a separate country, while Hawaii is a U.S. state - to and American mother and Cuban father, who himself was naturalized. That Cruz was a birthright American was never in doubt, but technically he did hold dual citizenship. While Democrats enjoyed pointing out the hypocrisy of Cruz's position I don't think anyone really thought it would be an issue - until Donald Trump raised the issue this past week.

The issue comes down to the term "natural born." When a case is heard in Federal court the defining law becomes "what did the framers of the Constitution intend when they wrote it." At the time it was written, birthright citizenship was not defined. The prevailing legal tradition of Common Law - taken from the English was that natural meant born in the country and / or sired by a father who was a citizen of that country at the time. Based on that interpretation - which a number of scholars feel the current conservative members of the court have held to in their writings - Cruz is now a natural born Canadian - Cuban with American citizenship - but not natural born American citizenship. Ergo he cannot be president. I love it.

Trump who himself has flip flopped on this issue honestly admits he is raising the issue because Cruz is now a threat to him in the polls. Still he correctly points out that is could be a legal issue if Cruz is the nominee or even on the ticket at some point. U.S. Congressman Alan Grayson has promised to sue, and so have a few others so the irony is rich beyond words. Meanwhile - the GOP controlled Senate and House have publicly stated they will not vote on a resolution declaring Cruz natural born. He is the most hated man in Washington, and paybacks always come around. I love it.

It will be interesting to watch this playout - great winter tv.

It seems Trump is the inevitable GOP nominee - which I never imagined possible. Suddenly he looks really formidable. Jeb! looks smaller everyday - he really looked small and meaningless in the Fox debate last night. Rubio is now getting hit with his flips and flops, missed votes and connections to a drug dealing brother in law - whom he used his official position as a Florida legislator to help. What a great field!

Looking for a Trump - Haley ticket to emerge from this - but to be honest, anything could happen. Trump's own liabilities have yet to really be dissected in the media, probably because no one thought he had a shot until now. It's coming. Remember too the NY Attorney General is investigating him for serious fraud in relationship to his failed Trump University - which was shut down a couple years go. Lot's more coming! Stay tuned.

[a***@gmail.com]

Post by kevin
One of the joys of this campaign season is watching a-holes get reamed by their own actions and hypocrisies.
Canadian born U.S. Senator Ted Cruz was one of the voices claiming Obama was not eligible to be president because he was not born here, and his father was Kenyan. Cruz danced around the issue for years stopping just short of calling the president out, saying he did not know where Obama was born etc., anything to demean the president.
It has always been known that Cruz was himself foreign born - Canada being a separate country, while Hawaii is a U.S. state - to and American mother and Cuban father, who himself was naturalized. That Cruz was a birthright American was never in doubt, but technically he did hold dual citizenship. While Democrats enjoyed pointing out the hypocrisy of Cruz's position I don't think anyone really thought it would be an issue - until Donald Trump raised the issue this past week.
The issue comes down to the term "natural born." When a case is heard in Federal court the defining law becomes "what did the framers of the Constitution intend when they wrote it." At the time it was written, birthright citizenship was not defined. The prevailing legal tradition of Common Law - taken from the English was that natural meant born in the country and / or sired by a father who was a citizen of that country at the time. Based on that interpretation - which a number of scholars feel the current conservative members of the court have held to in their writings - Cruz is now a natural born Canadian - Cuban with American citizenship - but not natural born American citizenship. Ergo he cannot be president. I love it.
Trump who himself has flip flopped on this issue honestly admits he is raising the issue because Cruz is now a threat to him in the polls. Still he correctly points out that is could be a legal issue if Cruz is the nominee or even on the ticket at some point. U.S. Congressman Alan Grayson has promised to sue, and so have a few others so the irony is rich beyond words. Meanwhile - the GOP controlled Senate and House have publicly stated they will not vote on a resolution declaring Cruz natural born. He is the most hated man in Washington, and paybacks always come around. I love it.
It will be interesting to watch this playout - great winter tv.
It seems Trump is the inevitable GOP nominee - which I never imagined possible. Suddenly he looks really formidable. Jeb! looks smaller everyday - he really looked small and meaningless in the Fox debate last night. Rubio is now getting hit with his flips and flops, missed votes and connections to a drug dealing brother in law - whom he used his official position as a Florida legislator to help. What a great field!
Looking for a Trump - Haley ticket to emerge from this - but to be honest, anything could happen. Trump's own liabilities have yet to really be dissected in the media, probably because no one thought he had a shot until now. It's coming. Remember too the NY Attorney General is investigating him for serious fraud in relationship to his failed Trump University - which was shut down a couple years go. Lot's more coming! Stay tuned.

Very interesting update Kevin on the circus we have in the GOP, and ALSO in the Democratic race for president. I have seen every debate, but the last one was the best. All of the skeletons are slowly but surely coming out of the closet from some of the runners. As for Cruz, I would say that "Native Born" means exactly just that. You MUST be born in the US, whether or not your parent is an American or not. The Supreme Court will have to decide on this once and for all, and that would mean that Cruz has a giant obstacle in his path to be president (unless the court rules in favor for him well before the Republican convention.) Dr. Carson must disappear because his answers were vague and so generalized that I don't think he has a full grasp of what to do to be president. I have no idea why Jeb Bush is running. You can clearly see that his heart is not in it, although he is playing the part very well. Donald is a bully, and his overall personality could get us into serious trouble with many leaders in the world. He has said many stupid things, but the worst was saying that every Muslim must leave the country. That is insane and can never happen because its wrong and isn't practical. I like Christie, but human nature will always pick the tallest and most handsome person, or somewhere close to that segment of society, and Christie is way too fat. Yes, there have been fat presidents, but in today's society where good looks is essential, Christie unfortunately doesn't cut the mustard. He would make a good president, and if he runs against Hillary, he may win because people are tired of Hillary, especially the Independents and people who are just plain old tired of the Clintons. She has lost all of her credibility, and she has this attitude that she deserves to be president. I don't think so Hillary. As for Sanders, people may like what he says about taking away from the rich and giving lots of things to give away to the poor and downtrodden, but the middle class will have to pay a hell of a lot more taxes for this socialist to spend and spend and spend when we are almost in 18 trillion in debt. He sounds like Santa Claus, but he is not in reality, and Americans know this.

Rubio is cute and young, but there are some questions about his past that are not going to be in his favor. He seems to know about all the problems we have, and seems to have answers, but he just doesn't have enough experience, just as Obama didn't have experience.

There is some talk that Governor Brown of CA may jump in the race when the Democratic party sees that Hillary and Sanders can't win. We will have to wait and see about this.

As of now, I think Christie has what it takes to be a good president even if he has 3 tires around his waist. Trump is a wise ass and should stick to what he does best, which is building buildings and creating jobs. His over-inflated ego is awful, and he can be quite disgusting in his remarks against his competitors. But the hatred and mistrust the majority of people have against Obama can be the silver bullet for him to get in, so don't rule him out. There is plenty of time yet, and anything can happen.

I can't wait for the next debate. Anyone that I did not mention above has no chance. You either have it, or you don't. Right now Trump has it, but anything can happen. There is no clear cut winner YET.

Richie

[kevin]

Post by a***@gmail.com

Post by kevin
One of the joys of this campaign season is watching a-holes get reamed by their own actions and hypocrisies.
Canadian born U.S. Senator Ted Cruz was one of the voices claiming Obama was not eligible to be president because he was not born here, and his father was Kenyan. Cruz danced around the issue for years stopping just short of calling the president out, saying he did not know where Obama was born etc., anything to demean the president.
It has always been known that Cruz was himself foreign born - Canada being a separate country, while Hawaii is a U.S. state - to and American mother and Cuban father, who himself was naturalized. That Cruz was a birthright American was never in doubt, but technically he did hold dual citizenship. While Democrats enjoyed pointing out the hypocrisy of Cruz's position I don't think anyone really thought it would be an issue - until Donald Trump raised the issue this past week.
The issue comes down to the term "natural born." When a case is heard in Federal court the defining law becomes "what did the framers of the Constitution intend when they wrote it." At the time it was written, birthright citizenship was not defined. The prevailing legal tradition of Common Law - taken from the English was that natural meant born in the country and / or sired by a father who was a citizen of that country at the time. Based on that interpretation - which a number of scholars feel the current conservative members of the court have held to in their writings - Cruz is now a natural born Canadian - Cuban with American citizenship - but not natural born American citizenship. Ergo he cannot be president. I love it.
Trump who himself has flip flopped on this issue honestly admits he is raising the issue because Cruz is now a threat to him in the polls. Still he correctly points out that is could be a legal issue if Cruz is the nominee or even on the ticket at some point. U.S. Congressman Alan Grayson has promised to sue, and so have a few others so the irony is rich beyond words. Meanwhile - the GOP controlled Senate and House have publicly stated they will not vote on a resolution declaring Cruz natural born. He is the most hated man in Washington, and paybacks always come around. I love it.
It will be interesting to watch this playout - great winter tv.
It seems Trump is the inevitable GOP nominee - which I never imagined possible. Suddenly he looks really formidable. Jeb! looks smaller everyday - he really looked small and meaningless in the Fox debate last night. Rubio is now getting hit with his flips and flops, missed votes and connections to a drug dealing brother in law - whom he used his official position as a Florida legislator to help. What a great field!
Looking for a Trump - Haley ticket to emerge from this - but to be honest, anything could happen. Trump's own liabilities have yet to really be dissected in the media, probably because no one thought he had a shot until now. It's coming. Remember too the NY Attorney General is investigating him for serious fraud in relationship to his failed Trump University - which was shut down a couple years go. Lot's more coming! Stay tuned.

Very interesting update Kevin on the circus we have in the GOP, and ALSO in the Democratic race for president. I have seen every debate, but the last one was the best. All of the skeletons are slowly but surely coming out of the closet from some of the runners. As for Cruz, I would say that "Native Born" means exactly just that. You MUST be born in the US, whether or not your parent is an American or not. The Supreme Court will have to decide on this once and for all, and that would mean that Cruz has a giant obstacle in his path to be president (unless the court rules in favor for him well before the Republican convention.) Dr. Carson must disappear because his answers were vague and so generalized that I don't think he has a full grasp of what to do to be president. I have no idea why Jeb Bush is running. You can clearly see that his heart is not in it, although he is playing the part very well. Donald is a bully, and his overall personality could get us into serious trouble with many leaders in the world. He has said many stupid things, but the worst was saying that every Muslim must leave the country. That is insane and can never happen because its wrong and isn't practical. I like Christie, but human nature will always pick the tallest and most handsome person, or somewhere close to that segment of society, and Christie is way too fat. Yes, there have been fat presidents, but in today's society where good looks is essential, Christie unfortunately doesn't cut the mustard. He would make a good president, and if he runs against Hillary, he may win because people are tired of Hillary, especially the Independents and people who are just plain old tired of the Clintons. She has lost all of her credibility, and she has this attitude that she deserves to be president. I don't think so Hillary. As for Sanders, people may like what he says about taking away from the rich and giving lots of things to give away to the poor and downtrodden, but the middle class will have to pay a hell of a lot more taxes for this socialist to spend and spend and spend when we are almost in 18 trillion in debt. He sounds like Santa Claus, but he is not in reality, and Americans know this.
Rubio is cute and young, but there are some questions about his past that are not going to be in his favor. He seems to know about all the problems we have, and seems to have answers, but he just doesn't have enough experience, just as Obama didn't have experience.
There is some talk that Governor Brown of CA may jump in the race when the Democratic party sees that Hillary and Sanders can't win. We will have to wait and see about this.
As of now, I think Christie has what it takes to be a good president even if he has 3 tires around his waist. Trump is a wise ass and should stick to what he does best, which is building buildings and creating jobs. His over-inflated ego is awful, and he can be quite disgusting in his remarks against his competitors. But the hatred and mistrust the majority of people have against Obama can be the silver bullet for him to get in, so don't rule him out. There is plenty of time yet, and anything can happen.
I can't wait for the next debate. Anyone that I did not mention above has no chance. You either have it, or you don't. Right now Trump has it, but anything can happen. There is no clear cut winner YET.
Richie

I don't see Brown getting in at all - he is too old. I agree people are tired of the Clintons, but she may still win the nomination and the election - she's tough, don't underestimate her. Bernie is not the raging commie he is portrayed to be. He mainly gets things done, and he has a long history of compromise, so I think he could pull it off. Bush, Rubio, and Christie are done - too establishment for the new GOP. I thought Christie looked foolish in the last debate - talking like Obama was not going to leave the White House and would need to be kicked out. What a 'tard. Like all GOP governors - except Kasich Jersey is having trouble paying its bills. Christie could yet be indicted for a number of things beyond that stupid brige scandal.

I would be happy to vote for Elizabeth Warren, but honestly the race is too muddled to really call right now. It's going to be an interesting winter, no doubt. Stay warm, keep watching!