1 week from Iowa caucuses: Republicans flaunt endorsements

We are witnessing the total collapse of the Republican Party and the rise of the "know nothing party" who think nothing through. Want to abolish EPA, Energy, IRS and HUD. Want smaller government, but subsidies for their favorite industries.

Trump and Sarah Palin represent the absolute dumbing down of the GOP.

We are witnessing the total collapse of the Republican Party and the rise of the "know nothing party" who think nothing through. Want to abolish EPA, Energy, IRS and HUD. Want smaller government, but subsidies for their favorite industries.

And don't even think about mentioning cuts to military. Although to be fair, Rand Paul has brought this up.

"Democrats, who could be hurt most by a Bloomberg candidacy"

But they would still win California's 55 electoral votes, New York's 29 votes, Florida's 29 votes, Pennsylvania's 20 votes, Illinois' 20 votes and Ohio's 18 votes, right?

"Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders, who is surging against former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton in early voting states, urged Bloomberg to “bring it on.”

Did he get permission from GWB to say that?

Something to consider on Election Day. Who is the running mate. Hillary if the nominee 70 years old, Sanders 75 years old. Add 4 years to each and... The VP may be a considerable component to the nominee. And who would that be? Hillary seems to be sinking into the email server investigation which may lead to an indictment. Yet another consideration. Sanders has a $20 Trillion 10 year spending plan that would break the nation. Add that go the current $19 Trillion debt likely to approach $20 Trillion in the next year. USA just can't do it.

On the GOP side, Trump 69-70 years old though I don't think he will be the nominee. The big money is behind Bush and I think he may be the nominee, even though his poll results are very unflattering he is fairly young, Cruz and Rubio are young.

Not a very exciting selection in November as I see it.

Sanders has a $20 Trillion 10 year spending plan that would break the nation.

You do realize that everything Sanders proposes is done and works elsewhere in the world right? It's not like he is proposing new ideas, they are just new to Americans.

And don't even think about mentioning cuts to military. Although to be fair, Rand Paul has brought this up.

By the way, where is Paul these days?

You do realize that everything Sanders proposes is done and works elsewhere in the world right? It's not like he is proposing new ideas, they are just new to Americans.

Yeah, but what other country that is a 1st world nation that has over 320 million people. It's been pitched before many times, if we wanted to be like Sweden, we would all move there. In fact, Sanders should move there since he loves their social network system so, so much.

@Stranger...do you realize what our labor participation rate actually is? Unlike everywhere else in the world USA has a huge underclass looking for generous compensation w/o education or skills. Can you name a nation with similarities?

Ahh, the old "America is special/different" argument.

Amazing how many people whine about Japan making this argument, and yet you see Americans making the same argument.

You do realize that everything Sanders proposes is done and works elsewhere in the world right? It's not like he is proposing new ideas, they are just new to Americans.

It does work, how ? The Scandinavian countries Sanders is so enamored with are worse off than the US on virtually every indicator. Besides the fact there is literally not enough money in the country to pay for all his proposed new spending programs. Obama barely got much more modest measured passed. I give him 10-20% of the vote at most.

It does work, how ? The Scandinavian countries Sanders is so enamored with are worse off than the US on virtually every indicator. Besides the fact there is literally not enough money in the country to pay for all his proposed new spending programs. Obama barely got much more modest measured passed. I give him 10-20% of the vote at most.

Add to that the European GDP is about half combined of what the US is. When do Europeans work? Europe and as you said, many of the Scandinavian countries as well as countries like France, Spain and (we already saw what happened in Greece and Cypress) are having trouble paying out these huge sums of entitlements. And that is exactly what is breaking the back of Europe

"It does work, how ? The Scandinavian countries Sanders is so enamored with are worse off than the US on virtually every indicator"

What indicators would they be? Please explain.

The Scandinavian countries Sanders is so enamored with are worse off than the US on virtually every indicator.

Only in the bubble. Meanwhile, back in the real world...

Look up the book Sweden versus the US (2004) by a group of Swedish researchers about the fact that per capita GDP was (and is) lower in most of the countries of Europe than in most of the states of the US.

Yes, I understand that's what they tell you in the bubble.

I fear that all Bloomberg would do is make it possible for Trump to win with 40% because Bloomberg and the Dem nominee would split the 60% of the nation that isn't bigoted and ignorant. It doesn't really matter whether Bloomberg draws more from the Dem or the GOP.

"Look up the book Sweden versus the US (2004) by a group of Swedish researchers about the fact that per capita GDP was (and is) lower in most of the countries of Europe than in most of the states of the US."

One book in 2004? Do you have any other evidence? Maybe something a little more up to date might be better. You said "virtually every indicator" - please keep going.

if we wanted to be like Sweden, we would all move there

What makes you think Sweden would let you all in?

What makes you think Sweden would let you all in?

Most Americans wouldn't want to go, perhaps for a vacation, but beyond that......

One book in 2004? Do you have any other evidence? Maybe something a little more up to date might be better. You said "virtually every indicator" - please keep going.

But when libs go back to Bush which was back 8 years ago, bringing his name up and to constantly criticize the man, that's somehow relative to every argument about foreign policy, but this GDP report is not important, right? It's cold outside, but not cold enough to cherrypick, right?

But when libs go back to Bush which was back 8 years ago, bringing his name up and to constantly criticize the man, that's somehow relative to every argument about foreign policy, but this GDP report is not important, right? It's cold outside, but not cold enough to cherrypick, right?

False equivalency. The Republican party and policies have not changed much in the 8 years since Bush. (You could say they've gotten worse.) World economies can and have changed drastically in the over a decade that has passed since the book she cites was published.

Not what I asked, bass. You seem to think that any American who wants to go and live in Sweden has the right to just up and go.

That's not what I meant. My point was, most Americans don't want to be like Sweden and vice versa and that's ok. My beef is that Bernie Sanders thinks in his old age that we can transform the largest capitalist society into the next socialist States of the US and that is just a fantasy dream.

Would you put the Swedes on reservations, give them blankets and let them run casinos, too?

Come on, Cleo!

False equivalency. The Republican party and policies have not changed much in the 8 years since Bush. (You could say they've gotten worse.) World economies can and have changed drastically in the over a decade that has passed since the book she cites was published.

Well, if it's any indicator for the last 7 years, the liberal economical policies haven't done much either especially for the middle class and the poor.

"Well, if it's any indicator for the last 7 years, the liberal economical policies haven't done much either especially for the middle class and the poor."

I know you don't like to hear this but the middle classes and the poor have been getting screwed since Reagan and this has sped up in the last 15 years under Bush and Obama.

Given that you feel that Obama has single-handedly destroyed America during his catastrophic presidency and single-handedly created a low-wage benefit society with increased racial divisions and violence, you still think America is a better place to live? Sweden is regarded as a success story by most with an enviable standard of living and a safe society.

Obama hasn't been that bad, maybe?

I know you don't like to hear this but the middle classes and the poor have been getting screwed since Reagan and this has sped up in the last 15 years under Bush and Obama.

There is some truth to that, but it worsened under Obama, that's a fact and this nut job thinks he could easily win a 3rd term. He is completely off the reservation. Once this joker is out of office and lives in the limelight, the better for all of us.

Given that you feel that Obama has single-handedly destroyed America during his catastrophic presidency and single-handedly created a low-wage benefit society with increased racial divisions and violence, you still think America is a better place to live?

I wouldn't trade it for the world, however, I am very thankful that we have term limits when it comes to the presidency and what he does and no matter what executive order he signs with his pen, it can all be undone withe next president, thank God!

Sweden is regarded as a success story by most with an enviable standard of living and a safe society.

Sweden is nice, spent a few years there, can speak the language a little, but living there, NO Thanks!

Obama hasn't been that bad, maybe?

That bad, sorry to say, wish it weren't so, but.....

Well, if it's any indicator for the last 7 years, the liberal economical policies haven't done much either especially for the middle class and the poor.

First of all, Obama's economic policies were more left of center than truly liberal. He also inherited one of the biggest economic disasters in history. Considering that, most honest economists would say that we've recovered pretty well.

My beef is that Bernie Sanders thinks in his old age that we can transform the largest capitalist society into the next socialist States of the US and that is just a fantasy dream.

Bernie Sanders wants to return the American government to what it used to be. A government for everyone and not just for corporate interests and the wealthiest 1%. FDR era economic policies weren't a fantasy dream.

First of all, Obama's economic policies were more left of center than truly liberal.

Either way, they hurt more of the middle class than helped. They still created and put 47 million people on food stamps, plus wages and the average household median income has drastically fallen

He also inherited one of the biggest economic disasters in history.

And the next president will inherit and even bigger economic debt, not to mention a war with radical Islam in an unstable Mideast, a rogue Syria with a problematic dictator and don't forget about Vlad. The next president will inherit so much crap, it's probably not worth taking the job.

Considering that, most honest economists would say that we've recovered pretty well.

That depends on which economists we're talking about. The partisans or the realists?

Bernie Sanders wants to return the American government to what it used to be.

Which government is that?

A government for everyone and not just for corporate interests and the wealthiest 1%. FDR era economic policies weren't a fantasy dream.

So you are advocating more distribution of wealth. Robbing Paul to give to Peter.

Getting real tired of people using the ''Don't like it? Leave!'' argument. Same as flipping over the Monopoly board when you've lost. Surely it's much more patriotic and better to work to change one's own country into something they feel is better. But if Trumps walls go up, better get out before the construction is finished. Walls keep illegals out, but they also keep people in...

bass4funk JAN. 25, 2016 - 02:49PM JST Either way, they hurt more of the middle class than helped.

George Bush Jr. must be your hero. Bush lost private sector jobs over the course of his eight years, while Obama has created a net of 9.5 million private sector jobs during his presidency, and nearly 13 million if you start counting after the Great Recession Bush handed Obama technically ended in mid-2009.

What I am really concerned is why is even Trump still being one of the top runners???, if it is a joke it sure stopped to be funny. Even Jeb Bush seems better than Trump... and that is already scary

"Given that you feel that Obama has single-handedly destroyed America during his catastrophic presidency and single-handedly created a low-wage benefit society with increased racial divisions and violence, you still think America is a better place to live?"

"I wouldn't trade it for the world, however, I am very thankful that we have term limits when it comes to the presidency and what he does and no matter what executive order he signs with his pen, it can all be undone..."

I didn't ask where you would like to live. I asked that given what a terrible state the US is in according to you, by what measures is the US better? You paint a picture of a nation with a terrible economy, low-paid people needing welfare to keep their heads above water, racial tensions on the rise, intolerance with persecution of Christians on the rise, a dysfunctional health system which sees maniacs undiagnosed and going on murderous rampages etc. These opinions are yours, not mine.

I didn't know you'd spent years in Sweden. You are better placed than most of us here to tell us in what aspects the US is a better place to live after Obama destroyed the country. I know you are a patriot but try to keep the sentimental, parroted, jingoistic nonsense out of it. Healthcare could be a good starting point along with safety.

What I am really concerned is why is even Trump still being one of the top runners???

The disaffected always flock to extremists. Trump is the Western equivalent of ISIS, and the Trump supporters are those who are sick of the way things are going in the US - aka the disaffected. Same as the disaffected flock to ISIS, so do Trump supporters flock to Trump. Different sides of the same coin.

For Cruz, it's a measurement of just how much he is hated (not too strong a term) by the members of his own party that not a single Republican Senator or Representative has endorsed him. The fact they they are even willing to consider the clown car that Trump drives say loads about Cruz.

For HRC, that a 75 year old self-proclaimed Democratic Socialist with no chance of beating a non-Trump nominee in the general election, could be giving her trouble, speaks to her unpopularity amongst the base. Even among Democratic-leaning voters, she's viewed as dishonest and disliked.

Things are not looking up back home. That's beyond debate.

Getting real tired of people using the ''Don't like it? Leave!'' argument.

Hey, the truth hurts. Hate the messenger, don't hate the message.

Same as flipping over the Monopoly board when you've lost. Surely it's much more patriotic and better to work to change one's own country into something they feel is better.

That's why Trump is on the rise for the right and Sanders for the left. Both conservatives and liberals are tired of the establishment candidates. Hillary is slowly being rejected by the left as much as the GOP candidates are being rejected by the right.

But if Trumps walls go up, better get out before the construction is finished.

I left when Obama became president, so I understand.

Walls keep illegals out, but they also keep people in...

No one is going to come and bust down a door and do a massive sweep of illegals, it just

George Bush Jr. must be your hero.

In some ways, I do admire the man and other ways, I was conflicted.

Bush lost private sector jobs over the course of his eight years,

Things started to look really bad around 2007, seriously.

while Obama has created a net of 9.5 million private sector jobs during his presidency,

Private sector jobs in What exactly? That means spending should be up, welfare should be on the heavy decline, not on the increase, the debt should be going down and not up and the borrowing should stop. None of these things are happening.

and nearly 13 million if you start counting after the Great Recession Bush handed Obama technically ended in mid-2009.

And now we have over 47 million on food stamps thanks to this president.

What I am really concerned is why is even Trump still being one of the top runners???, if it is a joke it sure stopped to be funny. Even Jeb Bush seems better than Trump... and that is already scary

Oh, I definetly agree on that point!

I didn't ask where you would like to live.

I know, I just wanted to interject that point.

I asked that given what a terrible state the US is in according to you,

Whoa! Not according to me buddy, according to both conservatives and libs that are rejecting the establishment candidates.

by what measures is the US better? You paint a picture of a nation with a terrible economy, low-paid people needing welfare to keep their heads above water, racial tensions on the rise, intolerance with persecution of Christians on the rise, a dysfunctional health system which sees maniacs undiagnosed and going on murderous rampages etc. These opinions are yours, not mine.

I already outlined them earlier. I know liberals think Obama was the greatest success and when I drive around sunny Southern California, the only success I see are places far away from liberals reaches. "Orange County" is one great example. Others like Torrance, Pasadena, New Port Beach, San Clemente, Rancho Santa Margarita, Temecula, Lake Elsinore.

These are some of the most conservative, clean and for the most part low crime rated cities, free form over the top political PC. and a safe haven. Leaving these cities and driving into L.A. County, you are hit with a dose of reality how messed up this once beautiful state was until libs took it over. And now the only place where you can have a decent quality of life and don't have to worry about safety or some of the nutty people begging you for money are the cities I mentioned. I would like to see the rest of California catch up to the standard of OC or cities like Pasadena and Torrence.

I didn't know you'd spent years in Sweden. You are better placed than most of us here to tell us in what aspects the US is a better place to live after Obama destroyed the country.

I'm not trying to tell you anything, I just see it every day when I leave my house and drive to Burbank. Not my opinion, that's just a fact.

I know you are a patriot but try to keep the sentimental, parroted, jingoistic nonsense out of it.

Why not, I won't make excuses or apologies for being so, but I understand, for libs saying you love your country and want the best is just not a Kosher thing to do.

Healthcare could be a good starting point along with safety.

Sure, but not the way it is not, I think we need to dismantle it and rebuild a better and more affordable system for all, minus, single payer! But I don't know what or how it should be constructed.

The disaffected always flock to extremists. Trump is the Western equivalent of ISIS,

Was he on TV chopping off infidels heads??? That's a pretty bold and outlandish statement to make and I'm not even that big of a supporter of the man, but comparing him to ISIS, dude.....

and the Trump supporters are those who are sick of the way things are going in the US - aka the disaffected.

I think it's the other way around and to add to that, not only are these people sick, but blind and disillusioned.

Same as the disaffected flock to ISIS, so do Trump supporters flock to Trump. Different sides of the same coin.

But I don't see the correlation of how Trump and ISIS are supposedly are the same. You saw Trump murdering people in the name of Islam?

@Bass

Ok. You've said the US healthcare system is dysfunctional and needs rebuilding ( although you don't know how to do it ). Sweden has one of the best healthcare systems in the world.

You've said that certain conservative-controlled cities in California are safe with the implication that the liberal cities are not. Sweden has one of the lowest crime rates on the planet.

Let's take other substantive issues. Educational achievement, literacy rates, infant mortality, social mobility, gender equality, income inequality and levels of government corruption and transparency. I could go on.

I'm just interested in how Fox News dismisses these issues. Can the word 'socialism' make these bogeymen go away and exorcise them from the mind?

Ok. You've said the US healthcare system is dysfunctional and needs rebuilding ( although you don't know how to do it ). Sweden has one of the best healthcare systems in the world.

They also have longer waits, euthanasia and the personal care is NOT always the best, but again, that ok. I'm happy for the Swedes. I just don't want to see that social healthcare system in my country.

You've said that certain conservative-controlled cities in California are safe with the implication that the liberal cities are not.

Yes.

Sweden has one of the lowest crime rates on the planet.

I know, we also don't have Sürstromming thank God!

Let's take other substantive issues. Educational achievement, literacy rates, infant mortality, social mobility, gender equality, income inequality and levels of government corruption and transparency. I could go on.

They also have high suicide, drug usage and don't give me that BS about transparency when I know for a fact that Sweden never openly discusses the or makes public when a crime occurs, the nationality of the individual, why does that matter, to keep track, follow patterns and come up with stats. Sure and if you get all the liberal teachers out of the school system (meaning the progressive loons and NO, I'm not advocating for a right-wing religious conservative to teach the kids, but is progressive one rule education has got to stop.

*http://www1.cbn.com/cbnnews/world/2014/April/Soviet-Sweden-Model-Nation-Sliding-to-Third-World/**

I could go on as well, but I know how most libs love the unicornverse. As I said, the Swedes can keep their free stuff, just don't bring it to our shores.

I'm just interested in how Fox News dismisses these issues. Can the word 'socialism' make these bogeymen go away and exorcise them from the mind?

There's nothing to dismiss.

So Palin endorsed Trump and that's good for him? This soap opera keeps getting more and more ridiculous. And Cruz is a serious contender for the GOP nomination? A big OMG there. In the earlier debates, Rubio is the only one who seems calm, logical, well-spoken and intelligent in the Republican party but maybe that will be a handicap because GOP supporters seem to like just the opposite! Unless something major happens, the Democrats are still going to win by a healthy margin.

"Madame President" Get used it guys !

Will that be from behind bars Kurobune?

"Madame President" Get used it guys !

Probably in a SNL skit.

The disaffected always flock to extremists. Trump is the Western equivalent of ISIS,

Was he on TV chopping off infidels heads???

No, but he's preaching boots on the ground in the Middle East, which will kill more innocents - aka infidels.

That's a pretty bold and outlandish statement to make and I'm not even that big of a supporter of the man, but comparing him to ISIS, dude.....

...is pretty accurate. He embodies the extreme side of western culture.

"Religious voters are a big factor in the Republican caucuses in Iowa" - article

Texas - "Grand Jury Indicts Leader Behind Planned Parenthood Videos - Two anti-abortion activists behind the filming of videos on fetal tissue procurement by Planned Parenthood were indicted by a Texas grand jury on Monday, while clearing the women's health group of any wrong-doing."

The fraud of the GOP must be repellent to any thinking Republican or person of faith.

Here the readers see the corrupt underpinnings of the ever so holy religious right and their endless fabrications of victimhood.

No wonder Trump speaks for these disenfranchised morons, or tries to speak in tongues like his idiot fellow traveler Sarah Palin.

As Palin is a fraud at everything, remember this is the media wanna-be that was too ignorant to make FoxNews happy, so they dumped her; Trump's fraud religiosity is like his fake political histories. Full of holes and half truths. What a pathetic sight. What an endorsement of the GOP Shia-Tea.

I left when Obama became president

I just see it every day when I leave my house and drive to Burbank

So you no longer live in the United States, but you still drive to Burbank every day. And while driving (and posting on JT) you see America is mostly a mess, all because of you-know-who and liberals and freeloaders, but you think it still beats Sweden, because Pat Robertson's Christian Broadcasting Network told you so. (I checked the article. Fun stuff. Compares Sweden to the Soviet Union and North Korea.)

"but you think it still beats Sweden, because Pat Robertson's Christian Broadcasting Network told you so."

I fear Fox may be becoming too lefty and atheistic. The battle is bigger than politics now. It's become a cosmic struggle for Bass.

So you no longer live in the United States, but you still drive to Burbank every day.

Meaning, when I'm there for my job. I go back 3 times a year.

And while driving (and posting on JT) you see America is mostly a mess, all because of you-know-who and liberals and freeloaders,

No, but I do drive and as a resident, I know. But nice try....

but you think it still beats Sweden, because Pat Robertson's Christian Broadcasting Network told you so. (I checked the article. Fun stuff. Compares Sweden to the Soviet Union and North Korea.)

Plastic, what on Earth are you floating about?

I fear Fox may be becoming too lefty and atheistic. The battle is bigger than politics now. It's become a cosmic struggle for Bass.

More like, it's just making you libs angrier. Lol

No, but he's preaching boots on the ground in the Middle East, which will kill more innocents - aka infidels

Then we'll kill more of the radicals.

when I'm there for my job. I go back 3 times a year....... and as a resident, I know.

Which is it, bass? Do you go back now and again on business and are resident elsewhere, or are you a California resident who drives to Burbank daily?

If you left America because you couldn't stand it when Obama became president, what decided you to go back? What was so awful abroad that you would rather be living and working under the antichrist?

Then we'll kill more of the radicals.

You get all bent out of shape when the Iranians proclaim death to America. Yet here you are doing that which you deride.

Which is it, bass? Do you go back now and again on business and are resident elsewhere, or are you a California resident who drives to Burbank daily?

Californian resident, works in Burbank daily, on the go and back to Irvine. Do you know where that's at. Beautiful place.

If you left America because you couldn't stand it when Obama became president, what decided you to go back?

Business

What was so awful abroad that you would rather be living and working under the antichrist?

Everything about this so called president.

You get all bent out of shape when the Iranians proclaim death to America. Yet here you are doing that which you deride.

No, I just hate having a weak leader that refuses to kill more of the radical jihadists and refuses to call out radical Islam for what it is.

You get all bent out of shape when the Iranians proclaim death to America. Yet here you are doing that which you deride.

No

Yes:

Then we'll kill more of the radicals.

Not at all. if you believe that, fine. I'm with Trump on this, we need to do everything we can to destroy the radical Jihadists and as long as we have a president that capitulates, we are just going to get hit more and that's enough.

Hey, the truth hurts. Hate the messenger, don't hate the message.

No man, what hurts is that argument is used to suppress change. Why not say ''Don't like it? Do something about it!'' That would be truly progressive.

That's why Trump is on the rise for the right and Sanders for the left. Both conservatives and liberals are tired of the establishment candidates. Hillary is slowly being rejected by the left as much as the GOP candidates are being rejected by the right.

Holy cow! We agree on something.

I left when Obama became president, so I understand.

So you're not a resident?

No one is going to come and bust down a door and do a massive sweep of illegals, it just

Just what? That's exactly what Trump said he would do, get rid of the illegals and make America great again.

--(I checked the article. Fun stuff. Compares Sweden to the Soviet Union and North Korea.)

Plastic, what on Earth are you floating about?

Referring to an article that you linked to. Finding it hard to follow your own argument?