Free Republic

Gratuitous Hatred Is Destroying Republicans — Just as It Did the Ancient Israelites By Dennis Prager — March 1, 2016 I have been a radio talk-show host for 33 years, nationally syndicated for 18. I have never experienced anything similar to what I am experiencing now. Until recently, the only hate mail I ever received was from a small number of people on the left. The major reason for this, I am convinced, is that I don’t yell at callers and I treat callers who disagree with respect. Reading my e-mails these days is a brand-new experience. I receive hate...

<p>Watching presidential candidates Donald Trump and Sen. Ted Cruz this week was like watching the bully's punch painfully hit the book the nerd had hidden in his jacket. It was fun to see.</p> <p>Bully in chief Donald Trump likes to throw litigious punches, and a lot of people are scared of them, understandably. Getting sued hurts. A lot. (Come to think of it, any form of bullying is pretty painful.) But we learned this week that Cruz can't be bullied by Trump.</p>

Buoyed by strong voter dissatisfaction with the Republican status quo, Donald Trump holds a commanding double-digit lead over all his rivals in South Carolina, according to the latest Monmouth University survey of likely primary voters released Wednesday afternoon. Trump earned 35 percent, followed by 19 percent for Texas Sen. Ted Cruz, 17 percent for Florida Sen. Marco Rubio, 9 percent for Ohio Gov. John Kasich, 8 percent for former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush and 7 percent for Ben Carson. Just 5 percent of voters say they remain undecided among that group. Overall, 42 percent said they are completely decided ahead...

... The ad goes on to say that Trump bulldozed the home of an elderly widow in Atlantic City to build a limousine parking lot at his casino. "Trump won't change the system. He's what's wrong with it," it says in the end. Cruz tweeted his ad Friday morning saying "It's time we change the system and break the #WashingtonCartel -- together!" ...

Ted Cruz's debating skills are overrated. There. I said it. Over. Rated. ... There are three main reasons Trump came out on top against Cruz. Poll positions First: ad hominem (I'm a winner and you're a loser) combined with ad populum (I'm ahead in the race, so I must be the best). Trump initially mentioned how Cruz was losing by "going down in the polls" and that Trump was indeed winning as he boasted "In Iowa now...Ted, in the last three polls, I'm beating you. So you shouldn't misrepresent how well you're doing with the polls." Cruz had no response,...