2016 POTUS Election Thread

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boozeman

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Seems like a decent enough place to start an election thread.



Ted Cruz is locked in a nasty fight with George W. Bush's most famous adviser

ccampbell@businessinsider.com (Colin Campbell)

4 hrs ago



RTR4XVOE© Provided by Business Insider RTR4XVOE

Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas), a 2016 presidential candidate, is publicly feuding with one of the closest advisers of the last Republican president.

The fight between Cruz and Karl Rove, a veteran GOP consultant who guided George W. Bush's presidential campaigns, spilled out into the open over the weekend. Among other things, Cruz published emails that he said prove Rove is lying about events that took place six years ago.

"It's disappointing; this is why people are so cynical about politics, because too many people are willing to lie," Cruz said in a statement accompanying the emails.

Cruz was taking issue with Rove's Sunday statement accusing him of misrepresenting their interactions back in 2009, when Cruz was looking at running for Texas state attorney general, according to The Dallas Morning News.

The Dallas newspaper reported that Cruz claims in his new book, "A Time for Truth," that Rove demanded he downplay a contribution he received from former President George H.W. Bush, and that Rove had insulted Bush's ability to make such endorsements.

"He suggested that the elder Bush was too old to have good judgment anymore," Cruz reportedly wrote in his book, adding that Rove threatened to have George W. Bush endorse his primary opponent. "I was offended by that characterization and knew from my visit with 41 that it wasn't remotely true."

But in his statement — titled "A Time for Setting the Record Straight" — Rove insisted he never dissed the elder Bush. Rove said he was only concerned about the former president weighing in on the Texas attorney general's race while the incumbent Republican had yet to say whether or not he would run for reelection. (He ultimately ran for reelection that year; Cruz ran for the US Senate instead in 2012.)

"Mr. Cruz's account is wrong in other particulars, starting with an implication I would question the judgment of one of the finest men I have ever known, President Bush 41, whom I went to work for when I was 22 years old and have revered ever since," Rove wrote.

Rove further wrote that, at the time, he "was not raising money for the Bush Library, nor was former President Bush 43 going to endorse some unnamed Dallas state representative for state attorney general, nor were any library donors 'berating' me" — as Cruz's book claims.



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Rove also took a not-so-subtle shot at Cruz's record, which he said compared unfavorably to that of Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Florida), one of Cruz's GOP rivals in the 2016 presidential race.

"One piece of advice I offered was that he should stop describing himself as the 'next Marco Rubio,' since he did not have Senator Rubio’s outstanding legislative record of accomplishments as speaker of the Florida House of Representatives," Rove recalled.

But in his own statement reacting to Rove's, Cruz said it was Rove who was lying.

"I have known Karl Rove for a long time, and have considered him a friend. I understood that my recounting in my book A Time for Truth the threats he made in the 2009 Texas Attorney General race — and the disparaging remarks he made about President George H.W. Bush — would cause him some discomfort," the senator said. "But I never imagined that his response would be a straight-out falsehood."

He added, "Below is email correspondence, contemporaneous from that week, demonstrating the veracity of my account."

The emails released by Cruz's presidential campaign appear to show Rove doing two of the things he implied he was not doing at the time: discussing Bush library donors and taking Cruz's possible opponent seriously in the state attorney general's race.

Here are the emails:

From: Karl Rove
To: Ted Cruz
Sent: Wednesday, July 1, 2009 8:24 AM
Subject: Re: Follow-up from today
thanks -- I appreciate your doing what you can to keep this down -- the distress you mention is not mine or 43 -- it is the people raising money for the library who are also Branch fans and will not understand why one part of the Bush family is for not-the-guy while they are raising money big bucks for library.

Thanks too for clarifying that you asked to visit with 41; be as nonchulant [sic] as possible about the gift and we'll muddle through

On Jul 1, 2009, at 12:49 AM, Ted Cruz wrote:

Karl,

I am very sorry if I have done anything to distress you or President Bush 43 in any way.

Over the past several years, you've been extraordinarily generous in providing advice and insight re the AG campaign, and I have endeavored to follow your wise counsel to the letter. When we last spoke in January, you advised that the best way to convince Branch not to run was to bring aboard as many "old bulls" across the state as possible, so that the rest of the state would counteract his natural base in Highland Park. Since then, I've spent 18 hours a day doing nothing but working to follow that course of action, and we've been fortunate to enjoy significant success.

None of that matters, though. I got my start in politics (such as it was) working for you and for President Bush 43, and I've spent much of my adult life working to support the President. The last thing I would ever want to do is place either of you in a difficult situation.

When I asked to visit with President Bush 41, and he very kindly agreed, I imagined that we would spend maybe 20 minutes talking about the race, he would give his insights on Texas politics, and that would be it. I could not have been more astonished when he offered his support and gave me a personal check for the campaign.

Obviously, I recognize that President Bush 41's support is a very big deal, and inded [sic] I had been in discussions with his office about our issuing a press release about the endorsement. Given the concerns you expressed this afternoon, I have told 41's office that we will skip the press release altogether (see below).

His support will of course attract attention (much of which will be beyond my control), but I will very much follow your counsel to downplay the support and not highlight it in any way.

My hope is that this race will ultimately end up in a win-win scenario, that Dan will choose to run for the new Dallas congressional seat that will be drawn in 2012 and that he and I can work together as friends and allies for a long time. I know that a number of key donors have been urging precisely that course of action, which, if Dan were to choose to follow, would perhaps alleviate some of the concerns we discussed.

I know that it doesn't rise to the importance of what you have been doing these past eight years, but I do think there is a real need right now for new leadership in the Republican Party, and I am hopeful that this campaign can play at least some role in helping provide that leadership. Your legacy and President Bush 43's legacy, and especially the enormous progress y'all made in the Hispanic community, are too important not to keep pressing ahead.

Karl, you've been a friend and mentor a long time, and I value that friendship immensely.
Please let me know anything I can possibly do to address your and President Bush 43's concerns.

Thanks so much.

Ted.
----- Forwarded Message ----
From: Ted Cruz
To: President George H.W. Bush’s assistant
Sent: Tuesday, June 30, 2009 11:19:00 PM
Subject: Discretion being the better part of valor
Jean,

I spoke with Karl this afternoon, and he expressed real concerns that our drawing attention to President Bush 41's very kind support of the campaign would put President Bush 43 in a difficult position. The last thing I want to do is cause any trouble, so it's probably wiser just to forego this press release.

So, unless you disagree, I think it probably makes sense simply to include 41 on our overall list of donors, but not to do any separate release or anything highlighting his support, for which I remain deeply, deeply grateful.

Thanks so much,

Ted.
 

Jiggyfly

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Looks like the Republicans are going to cannibalize themselves again by trying to be the most conservative and it will bite them in the ass come general election time.

Not really a fan of Hillary being president mainly because it would mean even more entrenchment from congress.

I could get behind Bush just for the fact he could possibly get the congress to work together to solve some real issues, I respect that he has somewhat refused to pander but I don't know how long that last.
 

boozeman

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Looks like the Republicans are going to cannibalize themselves again by trying to be the most conservative and it will bite them in the ass come general election time.
Of course. And I don't blame them. I think it is about time to go conservative. Real conservative. Honest conservative. Not fake puppet George Dubya so I can pad my own personal interests Dick Cheney sort of way.

I think I like Rand Paul at this stage. But I can be convinced otherwise.

Not really a fan of Hillary being president mainly because it would mean even more entrenchment from congress.
That and she would be a psychotic bitch of a President. She learned what Bill did and is even more left wing. Didn't like her when she was pre-menopausal, even less now.

I could get behind Bush just for the fact he could possibly get the congress to work together to solve some real issues, I respect that he has somewhat refused to pander but I don't know how long that last.
Fuck Jeb too. The last thing we need is a continuation of the Bush "Dynasty".

I bet you could look back in history and have to go back to the most inept Feudal monarchies to find a family as fueled by nothing but nepotism and be as fucked up stupid as they are.

Prescott Bush was the last one with a brain and he was nothing but a big money corrupt prick. His progeny have been pathetic puppets who had their heads worked by someone else.

All in all, the whole field, both (D) and (R) is almost laughable.
 

Jiggyfly

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Of course. And I don't blame them. I think it is about time to go conservative. Real conservative. Honest conservative. Not fake puppet George Dubya so I can pad my own personal interests Dick Cheney sort of way.

I think I like Rand Paul at this stage. But I can be convinced otherwise.



That and she would be a psychotic bitch of a President. She learned what Bill did and is even more left wing. Didn't like her when she was pre-menopausal, even less now.



Fuck Jeb too. The last thing we need is a continuation of the Bush "Dynasty".

I bet you could look back in history and have to go back to the most inept Feudal monarchies to find a family as fueled by nothing but nepotism and be as fucked up stupid as they are.

Prescott Bush was the last one with a brain and he was nothing but a big money corrupt prick. His progeny have been pathetic puppets who had their heads worked by someone else.

All in all, the whole field, both (D) and (R) is almost laughable.
I look at Bush as totally different from the rest, I have come around on Rand but his election is a pipe dream.

I have to go with what's out there and Bush and Hillary seem to be the only rational ones available.
 

boozeman

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I look at Bush as totally different from the rest, I have come around on Rand but his election is a pipe dream.

I have to go with what's out there and Bush and Hillary seem to be the only rational ones available.
So you are basically saying, I have two to choose from, and I will make sure they are the front runner, one way or the other.

This is what you do at the ballot box months from now.

You make that tough choice...moron #1 or moron #2.

I would hope more happens before the election to help people like you decide.

I can tell you right now, Clinton never gets my vote, as insignificant as it is. Don't like her. Don't trust her.
 

townsend

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This election feels like Hillary's for the taking. She's the only candidate who can sit and let the election come to her. Everyone else will be forced to burn themselves out, and will generate about a million damning sound bytes in the mean time.

I want Rand, but not as badly as I used to. I've soured a little on the guy. He's the best candidate. That just isn't saying anything.
 
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Jiggyfly

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So you are basically saying, I have two to choose from, and I will make sure they are the front runner, one way or the other.

This is what you do at the ballot box months from now.

You make that tough choice...moron #1 or moron #2.

I would hope more happens before the election to help people like you decide.

I can tell you right now, Clinton never gets my vote, as insignificant as it is. Don't like her. Don't trust her.
Out of this feild of rabble rousers yes.

And I don't have any ideological views concerning a candidate, I just want someone that can make the current system run efficiently as possible.
 

Jiggyfly

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This election feels like Hillary's for the taking. She's the only candidate who can sit and let the election come to her. Everyone else will be forced to burn themselves out, and will generate about a million damning sound bytes in the mean time.

I want Rand, but not as badly as I used to. I've soured a little on the guy. He's the best candidate. That just isn't saying anything.
Yeah that's the way I see it going as well.
 

townsend

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I just think the email shit will catch up to her. But only if she has a smart opponent.
She's made of Teflon. The Clintons have been shady as fuck for 20 years. Bill's still seen as some kind of paragon, despite almost definitely being a rapist. Whitewater, Vince Foster, bombing a fucking aspirin factory, now Benghazi and the email scandal. No one takes it seriously. If they did she wouldn't be the wide open front runner, essentially unopposed.
 

Jiggyfly

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She's made of Teflon. The Clintons have been shady as fuck for 20 years. Bill's still seen as some kind of paragon, despite almost definitely being a rapist. Whitewater, Vince Foster, bombing a fucking aspirin factory, now Benghazi and the email scandal. No one takes it seriously. If they did she wouldn't be the wide open front runner, essentially unopposed.
Who did he rape?
 

dallen

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I think someone will come out of left field like Obama did in 2008. The main candidates get too much scrutiny and people get burned out on them early on.
 

L.T. Fan

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She's made of Teflon. The Clintons have been shady as fuck for 20 years. Bill's still seen as some kind of paragon, despite almost definitely being a rapist. Whitewater, Vince Foster, bombing a fucking aspirin factory, now Benghazi and the email scandal. No one takes it seriously. If they did she wouldn't be the wide open front runner, essentially unopposed.
Whitewater was a political boondoggle and i know this first hand. I am not a Clinton fan or supporter of any kind but they were innocent of wrong doing in the Whitewater scandal. It did however, eventually bring about the Lewinsky matter that got him impeached.
 

Clay_Allison

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If I was a republican candidate in the primary I think I would go with the tactic of pretending the rest of the republican candidates didn't exist and focus on Hillary and what I specifically wanted to do as president. Getting into fights with the other republicans just makes you look like an asshole.
 

Cowboysrock55

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I like Bernie a lot, I disagree with the his more socialist notions, but he seems like a good guy.
He scares the shit out of me. He basically believes in giving everyone a lot of free stuff. I don't think he has an understanding of economics at all. Yet people love to vote for the guy who says he will give them something for free.
 

shane

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I want Rand, but not as badly as I used to. I've soured a little on the guy. He's the best candidate. That just isn't saying anything.

It seems like he's losing some luster trying to be everything for everyone. But without a shadow of a doubt, he's the best candidate by far in either party. Jim Webb intrigues me on the Democrat side though, if he chooses to run, but I think the Party has gone too far off the deep end to nominate him.
 
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