Free Republic

On the day after Pope Francis spoke to Congress about the dangers of violent extremism in the name of religious fundamentalism, presidential candidate Ted Cruz, appearing at a Values Voter summit, threatened to murder Iranian Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. The Texas senator vowed that, if elected, he would “rip to shreds” the Iranian agreement deal recently passed through Congress, and kill the country’s leader if it didn’t give up its nuclear ambitions. “If the Ayatollah doesn’t understand that, we may have to help introduce him to the 72 virgins,” Cruz said to wild cheers from the audience of conservative Christians. The...

The spectacular rise of Donald Trump as leading presidential candidate should at last force Republicans in Washington to face the chronic ineffectiveness of their party: rank and file Republicans are turning to the Donald because he, unlike the party establishment, seems energetic, articulate, and determined to get something done. They have so long despaired of a party leadership that is inarticulate, somnolent, and inept that they are not deterred by the fact that Trump is dangerously unpredictable. The problem is not an insufficiently conservative party, as some conservatives think; a two-party system will always have a broad spectrum of viewpoints...

Pope Francis's address to Congress may have voters on both sides of the aisle seriously considering supporting Donald Trump’s immigration plan.  The pope stated that we must "not be taken aback by the numbers" of illegals he calls "refugees" invading our country.  Rather, we must apply the Golden Rule to the 11-30 million people openly defying our nation's rule of law. Unfortunately, Francis's "do unto others" dictum does not apply to cash-strapped lower- and middle-income Americans.  He says we must see the “refugees” as “persons … seeing their faces and listening to their stories,” but he exhibits no such...

Once again, I don't get it. Here are some dopey cliches not to use in your answers: He “didn’t resonate”. He “wasn’t ready for prime time”. He “failed to gain traction”. He was “a wallflower in the debates”. Stop it. I can talk like a Chuck Todd too, but what good would that do anyone? You want to not only win the presidency, but you want to elect someone who is not only conservative but has proven he can achieve difficult conservative goals even in a very hostile environment - right?

Gov. Scott Walker of Wisconsin has concluded he no longer has a path to the Republican presidential nomination and plans to drop out of the 2016 campaign, according to three Republicans familiar with his decision, who spoke on condition of anonymity. Mr. Walker called a news conference in Madison at 6 p.m. Eastern time.

0bama has called 0bama a Muslim. Anyone remember when StepOnallofus had to correct him, “You mean your CHRISTIAN faith?”. Problem is that 0’s statement doesn’t make sense unless he HAD MEANT TO SAY “Muslim”. “I am thankful that my opponent John McLame has not made an issue of my CHRISTIAN faith.” WTF? Its not like he was an such an outspoken bible-thumper that it could have been used against him. However if the word “Muslim” is used, it makes perfect sense that he would have given McLame a hat tip for not making an issue of it....

I've been calling this one for a while. That Fiorina would deliver the first in a series of blows to Trump. That America would be introduced to her. That she’d win. Now everyone from CNN to Fox News, to Salon, to even Breitbart News agrees that Carly Fiorina walked away with a landslide. Hell, even Cosmopolitan is singing her praises. Her performance was so dominant, it reminded me of a song from my youth. And so I made a montage... (video at link)

Video and pictures from the rally in Dallas.

So, a co-worker asked me what I thought about the Presidential race this evening. Before I could answer, a Latino visitor comes up and asks, "Are y'all talking about Trump?" This is what he had to say on the subject:

Before thousands at sports arena, candidate mocks pundits who called him a 'clown'DALLAS (CNN) - The ultimate showman ripped up the political rule book again Monday -- two nights before what is shaping up as a fiery showdown with his rivals at the CNN Republican debate at the Reagan presidential library in California. Donald Trump walked boldly onto the stage at a sports arena in Dallas, which was transformed into a rally of thousands of fervent supporters, and reinvented the time honored tradition of candidate debate prep ahead of Wednesday's crucial showdown. "I hear they are going after me. Whatever....

Here it is.

A political group co-founded by actress Eva Longoria is taking aim at Donald Trump and other Republican presidential candidates for controversial statements about Latino immigrants. The ad by the Latino Victory Project seizes on actual quotes from Republican candidates, such as Trump’s characterization of Mexican immigrants as “rapists” and “criminals,” and urges Latinos to register and vote in the 2016 election. “This is hate,” one actor says of the comments. “If we don’t stand up, who will?” The problem, this video is taken sound clips and pieced them together to provide a false narrative to push her agenda. Republicans have...

That's not what the crowd wanted. "I like the fact that he's not afraid to speak up," said Cheryl Surber, of Ft. Worth. "He's saying a lot of things that a lot of people want to have said that no Republican has had the male parts, so to speak, to say." "He has energy, he's exciting. I know he's got a big mouth, but people are willing to overlook that big mouth because we feel like he's going to get things done," said Mary Downing, of Dallas, who said she voted for Obama twice. All in all, it was a...

TRUMP ROCKED DALLAS TONIGHT– TRUMP ROCKS PACKED DALLAS ARENA – Gets Texas Crowd to BOOO Media (VIDEO) Jim Hoft Sep 14th, 2015 7:14 pm 63 Comments TRUMP ROCKED DALLAS TONIGHT– trump dallas The lines started forming outside the American Airlines Center in Dallas, Texas. Doors opened at 4 PM today. Donald Trump spoke at American Airlines Arena in Dallas, Texas today. Trump had the audience eating out of his hand. At one point he got the massive crowd of 20,000 to boo the mainstream media!

For those who missed the live stream. September 14, 2015: GOP Presidential front-runner Donald J. Trump spoke to 20,000 plus supporters tonight at the American Airlines Center in Dallas, TX.

DALLAS – Several North Texas organizations say they will protest the visit by Republican presidential frontrunner Donald Trump on Monday. RELATED: Inside Texas Politics (9/13/15) Dubbed "Dump the Trump," the North Texas chapter of the League of United Latin American Citizens says the protest will begin at 5 p.m. at the Cathedral Shrine of Our Lady Guadalupe on Ross Avenue in downtown Dallas. The demonstration will include a march to the American Airlines Center where Trump is expected to speak in front of a crowd in excess of 20,000 at 6 p.m. LULAC Council No. 102 President Domingo Garcia says...

(CNN)Donald Trump is heading back to Texas, but this time he won't be visiting the border. The real estate mogul will hold a rally in Dallas on Sept. 14, before he heads to California to deliver a speech and participate in the second GOP debate on Sept. 16, hosted by CNN. Trump announced the event on Twitter on Friday afternoon, saying "will be great to be back in Texas." The arena seats around 18,000 people, and is normally home to the Dallas Mavericks. The rally will be held at the American Airlines Center in Dallas at 6 p.m. CST and...

Donald Trump will hold a major rally at the American Airlines Center in Dallas on September 14th. aa center The center holds 21,000 for concerts. The Dallas Morning News reported: “ Real estate tycoon Donald Trump is staging what could be an enormous campaign rally at the American Airlines Center in Dallas. “He’s excited about coming to Dallas,” said Trump campaign spokeswoman Hope Hicks. “He’s looking forward to it.” The September 14 event is free to the public, and will mark Trump’s first major event in North Texas since he announced his bid for president. Trump, the front-runner for the...