Doctor Ben Carson in today's commentary

I hope this good and decent man goes out with the same class and dignity that was made manifest throughout his life and his campaign. TD

Carson close to ending campaign   . . . "Carson was easily the nicest candidate in the field, who rarely had an unkind word for his opponents. But in a campaign so incendiary, so toxic, he was drowned out by the bombast coming from others.  That, and his frightening ignorance of national security issues, led to his eventual downfall." Rick Moran

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Ben Carson tells supporters he sees 'no path forward'

“We, as Americans, can and must do better than that,” Carson said. “We have a process, an electoral process. That is a process that I’m in the process of following and will continue to follow and will continue to listen to our millions of supporters and we’ll act accordingly.”

 Video at the link  

Some see a chance of Ben Carson joining Trump  "Retired neurosurgeon Ben Carson looks to be dropping out of the presidential race, despite multiple declarations to the contrary on Super Tuesday. He will skip out on Thursday night's debate, and he has openly declared that he does "not see a political path forward." Carson will speak on Friday at the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC), where he is expected to drop out of the race. If so, whom will he endorse?"

RedState is more critical of Carson than many I don't like the writer's use of the word "scam", but do wonder if Carson is out or just holding his place.

The Closing Chapter of Ben Carson’s Campaign   "Yes, his campaign dragged on for far too long, and he stumbled forward in denial of basic electoral realities and his own weaknesses as a candidates, Yes, he generated so few votes for so much eagerly donated grassroots money. Ben Carson didn’t enter this race a policy expert, but his heart always seemed to be in the right place. He wasn’t up to speed on the details, but he almost always seemed to see the big picture right — and perhaps more importantly, he could say he had lived by the right values. Every high schooler in America ought to hear about Carson’s life story and his ability to overcome adversity. Some presidential front-runners come out of the blue and you wonder what a fickle primary electorate sees in that figure; in Carson, the appeal was clear."

Trump, Trump, Trump; 24 hours a day.

http://terrellaftermath.com/

I don't see Gov. Christie as a vice-president, even with his attack-dog qualifications, but picture him as Attorney General. TD

Rush feels bad for Gov. Christie  " Yeah, I'm sitting here thinking about Chris Christie.  This is another one of these things that won't go away.  They're making fun of the guy.  They're literally destroying the guy.  And I'm sure that Christie, when he endorsed Trump, I think he probably thought it was gonna be heralded, you know, a great move, courageous move. . . . And instead he's standing behind Trump last night on the stage not knowing how to do it. "

Victor Davis Hanson on how to fight Donald Trump  . . . "The problem for Trump is not just that he cannot score points on ideas and so he monotonously strikes back with ad hominem slurs, but also that, off the cuff and in passing, he is capable of saying almost anything. Over two hours, those anythings — especially when they are windows into his past and his present values — finally add up." . . .

So far, Trump wins open primaries and Cruz wins closed … and the calendar is starting to change toward more closed primaries

The Volokh Conspiracy

"Following the South Carolina primary, an interesting article by Michael Harrington went around Facebook that speculated that Donald Trump’s victory in the South Carolina primary was attributable to Democrats voting in the Republican (open) primary. One of the good things about Harrington’s article is that he put out a testable hypothesis — that turnout in the Democratic primary a few days later would be less than 390,000. In fact, it was 367,000. Harrington concludes that had South Carolina had a closed primary, Ted Cruz would have won the primary there. I don’t know him and the author seems to be anti-Trump based on other things he has written — but the fact that his prediction was borne out adds some independent verification to his thesis. So that got me to thinking."

Former CIA Director: Obama Threw Us under the Bus

Is there anyone Obama would not throw under any bus, anywhere and at any time? The Tunnel Dweller

"(This is the second of two interviews with Michael Hayden.)"

Elise Cooper  . . . "Support was not forthcoming for those in the intelligence community.  The book discusses how the Obama administration, which includes but is not limited to people such as John Brennan, attempted to change the legal and political landscape.  The current CIA director, Brennan, appeared to have a revisionist memory when he recently said on 60 Minutes that he had misgivings and concerns about the Enhanced Interrogation Program.  When asked, Haydenreferred to the Showtime documentary Spymasters.  In it, George Tenet, Brennan's boss, said that Brennan had never raised concerns, never expressed discomfort, and never said it should be stopped.

" 'But more importantly, what Hayden wants to focus upon is that America should be "capturing terrorists and detaining them for interrogation.  How we get to that point is to elect another president.  This president grabs someone only if he can put them in an article III court, instead of treating them as enemy combatants.' " . . .

The author writes for American Thinker.  She has done book reviews and author interviews and has written a number of national security, political, and foreign policy articles.

How will a devious, ruthless Clinton escape from all this? Oppo research maybe?

FBI grants immunity to Clinton staffer who set up email server  "This could be the beginning of the end for Hillary’s political career, with the now immunized Bryan Pagliano, no mere IT tech, but rather a member of Hillary’s 2008 campaign, free to sing like a bird and implicate others in a criminal conspiracy.

"Or not.

"Adam Goldman of the Washington Post broke the story:" . . .

. . . This could set off a cascade of witnesses flipping, to avoid prison, by implicating their superiors.  William Jacobson of Legal Insurrection outlines the process:

Several months ago, Kemberlee predicted that getting a State Department employee to flip on Hillary would be the key, Some dare say conspiracy: Who will be first Hillary aide to flip on her?: . . .

. . . "This blows to hell the Hillary camp contention that this is just a security review.  It is now unmistakably a criminal inquiry, and immunity is not casually granted.  Usually it means that there is something specific of a criminal nature that is being sought, and that the recipient of the immunity is a smaller fish.

"And who would the big fish be?" . . .   

By Thomas Lifson

I suppose Hillary's oppo research team looking for dirt on Republican candidates is also looking for juicy bits on possible prosecutors in her case.  Let's hope that FBI Director Comey -among others - is as clean as a whistle. TD

Here is the Legal Insurrection article: Hillary email scandal moves into flip flip flip phase   . . . "As I said earlier, Bernie Sanders just needs to hang on long enough, Bernie playing to box out other candidates after Hillary indicted.

"Until Huma flips. Then it’s all over."

Hillary can silence Huma with the threat to release nude photos of her husband. Oh, wait...never mind.

Comey Speaks, Tersely   "On the rare occasions when she is asked about the FBI investigation arising from her use of an insecure email server to conduct official business as Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton refers to it as “a security review.” It is, moreover, “a security review” that “was requested,” as though the FBI is doing someone a favor. The woman lies with the ease and abandon of a pathological liar.
(Emphasis mine, TD)

"Clinton makes it sound routine. The FBI, however, does not perform “security reviews.” It conducts criminal investigations. Its handling of the Clinton email matter clearly constitutes a criminal investigation."

. . . Note Comey’s use of the term “investigation” to describe the FBI’s work on the matter. Note also his proclamation of involvement in it. Whatever the outcome, he will bear responsibility." . . . 

As Presidential Campaign Unfolds, So Do Inquiries Into Clinton’s Emails

. . . "As Hillary Clinton moves toward the Democratic presidential nomination, she faces legal hurdles from her use of a private computer server as secretary of state that could jar her campaign’s momentum in the months ahead. Foremost among a half-dozen inquiries and legal proceedings into whether classified information was sent through Mrs. Clinton’s server is an investigation by the F.B.I., whose agents, according to one law enforcement official, could seek to question Mrs. Clinton’s closest aides and possibly the candidate herself within weeks." . . . 

Obama: The Lamest Duck; A Devastating Column by Victor Davis Hanson

. . . There is so far no Obama legacy, except the creation of Donald Trump, a $20 trillion debt and zero interest rates—and the gift of flat energy prices that came despite not because of Obama’s efforts. . .

Victor Davis Hanson

. . . "His hard-left politics have insidiously eroded the Democratic Party, which has lost both houses of Congress and the vast majority of the state legislatures, state elected offices, and governorships. Obama has redefined the black vote, as a necessary, no-margin-of-error 95% bloc majority to offset his similar creation of an increasingly monolithic 65% bloc white vote. We are no longer individual voters, but, in Chicago-politics style, merely faceless “Latinos,” “Asians,” “African-Americans,” “gays,” “women,” and now “whites.”

"Obama issues a new initiative—and the nation snoozes. He wastes the day on the golf links—and the nation snoozes. He smear his critics, invites a rapper to the White House whose latest album cover has a dead white judge lying in front of the White House—and the nation snoozes. He cozies up to America’s enemies and snubs our friends—and the nation snoozes. For the nth time, he blusters about closing down Guantanamo—and the nation snoozes. He opens the border even wider to welcome in more illegal aliens and future constituents—and the nation snoozes. Lame duckestry means not even being able to wake up your opponents." . . .

There is so far no Obama legacy, except the creation of Donald Trump, a $20 trillion debt and zero interest rates—and the gift of flat energy prices that came despite not because of Obama’s efforts. Almost every major bureaucracy is awash in scandal or charges of incompetence. The common theme of the disasters at the GSA, EPA, ICE, IRS, NASA, Secret Service, and VA is ideological subversion and ingrained hostility to meritocracy. Would anyone be surprised that another government official pled the 5th, created fake email personas, resigned at 5 PM on a Friday afternoon, declared a foremost mission Muslim outreach, or withheld subpoenaed documents?

Obama's legacy includes black-white animosity, hatred for the police and targets on the backs of law enforcement and merchants in the streets of Obama's cities. TD

Please post your reasons for disagreeing with my words here: 

A former Soviet citizen writes: "When Bernie honeymooned at Lenin’s Tomb"

. . . Still, many Westerners, Sanders among them, liked to draw comparisons, and some, even after they saw our circumstances, continued to insist that the basic needs in the Soviet Union were covered by the government.  We understood that many of those espousing these views were some sort of commies and thought of them as basically good people but hopelessly naive."

 When Bernie honeymooned at Lenin’s Tomb

 

"Strange it was because, lets face it, not all newlyweds surround themselves with an entourage of 10, hob-nob with provincial nomenclatura and tour Lenin’s tomb."

. . .  "Although the free spirit from Vermont fancied his “foreign policy” to be some sort of an antidote to the warmongering Reagan, his Yaroslavl partnership came on the coattails of the 40th president who ushered in the friendliest relationship we ever had with Russia.

"If the mayor’s guided tour of Russia was some kind of foreign policy exercise, I feel a bit let down because, as far as I can tell, Bernie didn’t utter a word about freedom.  We in the Soviet Union were taking steps towards liberalization, and not a word of encouragement from this American official?

. . .  "Russian media doesn’t pay much attention to American elections at this early stage, and, in as much as they do, they prefer populist Trump to socialist Sanders."

After noting the naivete' of liberal Americans, the author then catalogs the misconceptions they have of socialism. First healthcare:

. . .  Bernie’s observation about free healthcare in the Soviet Union was a common misconception because increasing number of doctors were paid under the table.  My own grandfather was a doctor; he completed his studies shortly before the Bolsheviks consolidated the power in what is now Ukraine.  He worked a government job, and, returning home, took clients there, charging them the market rate.  He made a comfortable living for us."Underground moonlighting jobs were very common in the Soviet Union because the paycheck from the government could not sustain a family." . . .  "Presuming, as Sanders did, that the cost of healthcare and housing in the Soviet Union was approaching zero, the question arises, on what kind of shiny toys did the Soviet subjects spent their immense wealth?"

Then she comments on the socialist economy:

 . . . It’s not an exaggeration to say that every Soviet adult was involved in some kind of black market transactions.  There was a lot of frustration, among intelligentsia especially, that one simply could not make an honest living in that country.  To live not by lie, as in Solzhenitsin’s famous dictum, was not an option.  Yet the enormity of the Soviet black market somehow escaped Bernie.

 Ill-informed Utopians like Bernie-class liberals just did not impress those who had lived their lives under socialism.

. . . "Still, many Westerners, Sanders among them, liked to draw comparisons, and some, even after they saw our circumstances, continued to insist that the basic needs in the Soviet Union were covered by the government.  We understood that many of those espousing these views were some sort of commies and thought of them as basically good people but hopelessly naive."

. . . "Sanders says he wants to usher in a Scandinavian-style socialist democracy.  Setting aside the discussion that Scandinavia is not as socialist as Sanders imagines it to be, the United States is a lot more like Russia: a vast, ungovernable country."

New U.S. Special Forces team captures its first 'significant' ISIS operative during raid in northern Iraq

Would President Bernie Sanders have ordered this raid? Just asking.

UK Daily Mail  "American Special Forces have captured a 'significant' ISIS operative in northern Iraq as part of a new mission to increase pressure on the terror group.

"The detainee, who has not been identified, has been in custody for the last two or three weeks at a temporary structure in the norther Iraqi city of Erbil.

"U.S. forces, who are holding the prisoner, will interrogate them for the next several weeks before turning them over to Iraqi or Kurdish authorities, the operative is the first target to be captured by a 200-strong team led by elite Delta Force troops, which is known as the 'expeditionary targeting force', since deploying in Iraq in recent weeks.

"Special Operations troops killed ISIS leader Abu Sayyaf during a raid in eastern Syria back in May last year and captured his wife, Umm Sayyaf.

Information gleaned from her, as well as data taken from computers, files and hard drives used by ISIS, convinced Carter of the need to put a permanent force together.

"Sayyaf is still being held by the Kurdistan Regional Government an was charged last month with being part of a conspiracy resulting in the death of Kayla Mueller, 26, an American aid worker.

"Mueller had been captured by ISIS in 2013 and was kept as a sex slave by the Sayyafs and repeatedly raped by ISIS' self-proclaimed emir, Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, while in his custody. 

CAIR: Majority Of Muslims Voted For Hillary On Super Tuesday…

Weasel Zippers 
  

TRUMP WINS "DISAVOWAL" GAME, THEN SUPER TUESDAY

 

Do they have TV sets at CNN? An Internet connection? I don't work at a television network, but I saw Trump "disavow" David Duke a half-dozen times before Jake Tapper asked him to disavow Duke again last Sunday. 

Ann Coulter   . . . "The question served absolutely no journalistic purpose. No new information was sought. It was just a smear, for the sole purpose of getting the words "KKK" into the same sentence as "Donald Trump." 

"Unsuspecting viewers who missed Trump's earlier disavowals are supposed to think, Is Trump connected with the Klan? Why else would they be asking him about David Duke? 

"Given that Trump did disavow Duke the day before the Tapper interview, the only explanation for his refusal to do it again is that he was ticked off by the question and decided not to play ball. (Tip for journalists: When WASPs don't want to answer impertinent questions from reporters, they often say, "I don't know," rather than the more urban "go f---yourself.") 

"How many times must Trump waste precious airtime "disavowing" some random person he doesn't know, has never met and never mentioned? 

"David Duke IS a random person: The KKK has not been an organization of any significance since the mid-'60s (outside of Southern Poverty Law Center fundraisers), and David Duke hasn't been a member of this meaningless group since 1980. 

"Also, David Duke has never been accused of rape. Hillary's most prominent supporter has. Will she be asked to disavow Bill Clinton? " . . .

Here is a regrettable election poster for the Democrat Party from the mid-19th century. From Scotty Starnes's Blog:

"As we know, liberal/progressives have a terrible memory when it comes to actual history. The Republican Party was founded to abolish slavery and oppose the pro-slavery Democratic Party. The same party who enacted Jim Crow laws, the KKK, lynching, poll taxes,  and used segregation to hold down freed slaves. White liberal guilt is a cruel attribute."

LOOK: People Instantly Noticed Something Behind Trump During Super Tuesday Victory Speech

Christie took the Joe Biden position. Don't look for him to be vice-president however; not on a ticket with a New Yorker already on it. Attorney General might be a good role for Christie. TD

Western Journalism  . . . "Christie, who stood behind Trump throughout the speech, made Twitter headlines, as he appeared to look less like a peer and strong political supporter, and more like his sidekick, or “house boy.”

"Corie Stephens, a writer for the news organization Rare, tweeted, “I can’t believe Chris Christie is standing behind Trump like his house boy. I hope getting pounded like this feels good.”

"The official Huffington Post Twitter account joined the action, tweeting a picture of Christie standing behind Trump, captioning it, “This is still awkwardly happening.' ” . . .

It might not have been the wisest political move for Christie  

 . . . But now Christie is also taking blows from the left.  Six New Jersey newspapers are now calling for his resignation. . . .

Analysis: Just How Super Was Tuesday For Trump?

It appears the choice for President will be between Anybody But Trump and Anybody But Hillary.
Kasich's campaign seems to be hurting only the Anybody But Trump candidates. What is his motivation for staying in?

Guy Benson  "Super Tuesday's nominating contests went...roughly as expected, actually, with a notable twists and turns along the way.  In short, Hillary Clinton will be the Democratic nominee -- and while Donald Trump remains firmly in the GOP driver's seat, his night wasn't quite as dominant as you may have thought when you fell asleep. Details:" . . .

. . . "Even though the odds are tough to stop him, this simply isn't the mark of a truly dominant frontrunner:" . . .

Then there is this point of view:

 The #NeverTrump Crowd Should Get a Life  . . . "On another item on which I, as a devoted lifetime Zionist, have some background, the Israeli-Palestinian conflict - Cruz and Rubio are both being disingenuous in their criticism of Trump, to put it kindly. Trump has made very clear on numerous occasions his highly pro-Israel feelings. . . . "If you're interested in the welfare of Israel, I think it's one of the safest assumptions anyone can make that Donald Trump will be a hundred times better, at the minimum, than Barack Obama."

Roger L. Simon is an award-winning novelist, Academy Award-nominated screenwriter and co-founder of PJ Media.  His next book - I Know Best: How Moral Narcissism is Destroying Our Republic, If It Hasn't Already - will be published by Encounter Books in June 2016.