Here we are, the final day of the primary season, when Democrats in California, Montana, New Jersey, New Mexico, and South Dakota go to the polls to (theoretically) put Hillary Clinton over the top.
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Election Update for June 7, 2016
Tuesday, June 7th, 2016Texas Primary Runoff Results
Wednesday, May 25th, 2016A few quick results from last night’s runoffs:
Everybody Take a Deep Breath
Wednesday, May 4th, 2016If you’re a conservative, today is probably going to be rough.
We’re certainly living through interesting times, but today is not the day to apply for Australian citizenship, burn down the nearest Republican Party headquarters, or climb up on a high ledge.
Ted Cruz is still a Senator, the Constitution hasn’t been nullified overnight (as much as the Supreme Court is working on it), and Republicans still hold majorities in the House, Senate and Governor’s mansions that owe no allegiance to Donald Trump.
America survived a revolution, a civil war, two World Wars, the Cold War, disco, and Barack Obama. It will survive Donald Trump.
Now’s a good day to take a deep breath, hug your kids, kiss your wife, pet your dog, and put off thinking about politics until you’re less angry and depressed.
Cruz-Kasich Detente in Indiana, New Mexico, Oregon
Sunday, April 24th, 2016Ted Cruz and John Kasich have evidently come to an understanding about clearing the way for the other to fight Donald Trump in the states they’re respectively strongest in:
Tonight, Kasich for America chief strategist John Weaver issued the following statement:
“Donald Trump doesn’t have the support of a majority of Republicans – not even close, but he currently does have almost half the delegates because he’s benefited from the existing primary system. Our goal is to have an open convention in Cleveland, where we are confident a candidate capable of uniting the Party and winning in November will emerge as the nominee.”
Blather about Kasich’s awesomeness snipped.
Due to the fact that the Indiana primary is winner-take-all statewide and by congressional district, keeping Trump from winning a plurality in Indiana is critical to keeping him under 1237 bound delegates before Cleveland. We are very comfortable with our delegate position in Indiana already, and given the current dynamics of the primary there, we will shift our campaign’s resources West and give the Cruz campaign a clear path in Indiana.
In turn, we will focus our time and resources in New Mexico and Oregon, both areas that are structurally similar to the Northeast politically, where Gov. Kasich is performing well. We would expect independent third-party groups to do the same and honor the commitments made by the Cruz and Kasich campaigns.
This is a smart move against Trump, and one that keeps Cruz’s real hopes (and Kasich’s delusional ones) alive.
This is not only the strangest Presidential election of our lifetimes, it’s probably the strangest Presidential election since 1876 (the last time the House of Representatives choose Republican Rutherford Hayes over Democrat Samuel Tilden due to double sets of returns from southern states still undergoing reconstruction), and possibly since 1860…
Winning
Monday, March 14th, 2016How do you know you’ve won the game of life?
When you get certified as the oldest living man in the world, which is what Israel Kristal just achieved.
Moreover, Mr. Kristal, who was born in Poland, survived being sent to Auschwitz.
That means not only did he win the game of life, but he did it on the highest difficulty level.
Now Kristal lives Haifa, Israel, surrounded by a large family.
In your face, Hitler!
(Hat tip: Ace of Spades HQ.)
Jeb Bush Finally Gets the Hint
Saturday, February 20th, 2016“Jeb Bush, who sought to join his father and brother in winning the White House, suspended his campaign for the presidency Saturday night after a long year-long slide in the polls and a disappointing showing in the South Carolina primary.”
Trump is winning handily, with Marco Rubio and Ted Cruz fighting for second place.
Early Iowa Caucus Results Have Cruz Ahead
Monday, February 1st, 2016Early Iowa Caucus results show Cruz leading 28% to Trump’s 25%. Given the huge lead in free coverage and buzz Trump enjoyed the last eight months, that has to count as a big victory. Marco Rubio was running third, at 22%.
Cruz also lead in the particular district caucus National Review attended.
On the Democratic side, results also have Hillary Clinton barely edging Bernie Sanders 51% to 49%.
Keep in mind these results are very preliminary, and the usual caveats apply.
Explosion in Verviers, Belgium
Sunday, December 13th, 2015An explosion has ripped the facade off a townhouse in the Belgian town of Verviers. While it’s possible it was a gas leak, the town “has recently appeared in the headlines in connection with the mastermind of the Paris terror attacks in November. Abdelhamid Abaaoud was one of the leaders of a terrorist cell in the town. During a raid on the cell in January 2015, two of its members were killed.” Which makes me think that radical Islamic terrorism is yet again the culprit (either intentionally, or via premature detonation of an IED), rather than, say, radical Flemish separatists. (Mutters) Stupid Flanders…
Injuries have been reported after an explosion tore the facade from house in Verviers, Belgium.
Photo by @TheateC pic.twitter.com/t6wXjMKtem
— Fresco News (@fresconews) December 13, 2015
No report of casualties yet, and there’s a dearth of news on the topic.
Update 1: Seeing Twitter reports of 13 people injured but no fatalities. Still no cause listed.
How to Talk About Star Wars at Thanksgiving With Your Ignorant, Rebellion-Backing Uncle
Thursday, November 26th, 2015And now something lite for the holidays: How to Talk About Star Wars at Thanksgiving With Your Ignorant, Rebellion-Backing Uncle, which touches on such important points as:
Happy Thanksgiving, everyone!
Shrimp Boy Chow Trial Begins
Wednesday, November 11th, 2015Looks like it’s going to be all crime blotter news today.
First up: Raymond “Shrimp Boy” Chow’s racketeering trial started November 9.
Chow, 56, is charged with running the Ghee Tung Kong, a Chinese American community organization he has led since 2006, as a racketeering enterprise that trafficked in guns, drugs and stolen goods. He is also charged with arranging the murder of the organization’s previous leader, Allen Leung, and with conspiring to seek the murder of an alleged gang rival, Jim Tat Kong, who was shot to death in Mendocino County in October 2013. He has been held without bail since his arrest in March 2014.
First Democratic State Senator Leland Yee was supposed to be the big fish, but then he plead guilty to one piddling count of racketeering. That leaves Chow as the big fish, especially since so many lesser defendants have plead guilty to lesser charges.
The biggest charge against him is, of course, murder, but the evidence presented thus far on that is hardly conclusive.
(Hat tip: Dwight.)