Let's All Jump In

THE 2016 PRESIDENTIAL POOL; AKA: “LET’S ALL JUMP IN”.

DATELINE:

May 5 2015: It is expected that within days, many GOP candidates will be throwing their proverbial hats into the ring announcing that they will seek their party's 2016 nomination for President of United States. At the same time only two (2) Democrats have officially announced their candidacy and not many more are seen on the horizon.

May 12:At last count at least 19 Republicans have started or are considering campaigns for the 2016 presidential election.

August 2: The GOP fun-fest has begun in earnest. Candidates are lining up for meetings at a Koch Brothers get together, and setting the wheels in motion for the South Carolina primary. The one making the most noise so far is businessman and reality TV star Donald Trump who despite his big ego is getting support from many grassroots Republicans, actually leading in the GOP polls. There are currently 39 GOP candidates, some officially others not officially, seeking Thee Presidential nod from the Grand Old Party.

August 6: The first GOP Debate hosted by FOX NEWS had two rounds. The “HAPPY HOUR” Debate consisted of seven candidates who did NOT make “the cut”, via the five polls used for the FOX NEWS seeding. Those candidates were:Rormer Governor of Virginia Jim Gilmore, South Carolina Senator Lindsey Graham, Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal, Former Texas Governor Rick Perry, Former Pennsylvania Senator Rick Santorum, Retired Former CEO of Hewlett-Packard Carly Florin, and Former Governor of New York George Pataki. 

The second round was the prime time “Main Event” featuring the TOP TEN GOP Candidates. Hosted by Chris Wallace, Bret Baier and  Megyn Kelly, who, in my opinion, personally had a go at some candidates. One such “go” was an intense exchange with Donald Trump over comments he made about women. 

The TOP TEN were: Governor of New Jersey Chris Christie, Kentucky Senator Rand Paul, Former Florida Governor Jeb Bush,Senator Marco Rubio (Florida), Ohio Governor John Kasich (home town crowd favorite),Businessman Donald Trump, Former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee,Texas Senator Ted Cruz, Retired Neuro-Surgeon Dr. Ben Carson,and Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker.

   Two Hours with ten (10) candidates did not fully satisfy my appetite for a debate. Too many candidates equalled too little time to elaborate on answers, or simply answer the questions, let alone give time for dissenting opinions and/or rebuttals. However, I was impressed with the first questioned posed. Asking if any candidate on the stage would not support the 2016 GOP Presidential nominee, and/or would be seeking an independent run for President  if they personally did NOT get the nod, only Donald Trump raised his hand to some boos from the crowd.He stated he would NOT support others if he did not “Respect” him/her.

August 7 and 8: Donald Trump can NOT get out of his own way with comments he has been making regarding the debate (he claims to have won?), disparaging remarks regarding the FOX NEWS (they were out to get him from there get-go), Specifically addressed Megyn Kelly (“having blood coming out of her eyes ,blood coming out of her wherever”)just plain nasty)and then to be cancelled/shunned the next day  (August 8) by a GOP event, THE RED STATE GATHERING, where he was to be the main Prime Time speaker. This is getting to good to imagine .

Each candidates approach to seeking the highest office of the land will be scrutinized widely by a media which is in itself has proven, on more than one occasion, to be truly biased. My attempt in writing this blog will be to itemize each candidates ideas as reported by news agency regarding the candidates ideas pertain to Immigration,, Foreign Policy, the Economy, and their ideas regarding same-sex marriage legislation, as well as states rights issues. 

THE GOP ROAD TO NOMINATION

In 2012 the route to the GOP nomination was through Iowa, New Hampshire, South Carolina ,Nevada ,and Florida. Not much will change this year except a few states are considering having a primary rather than caucus.

PRIMARY V CAUSUS:The electoral process to nominate a candidate for a presidential election is usually called "the primaries," but there are two different systems that states use: caucus and primary.

Unlike a primary, where residents simply cast their ballots, a caucus is a local gathering where voters openly decide which candidate to support. The caucus format favors candidates who have a dedicated and organized following because a small band of devoted volunteers can exert an outsized influence in the open setting of a caucus.

States choose whether they want to hold primaries or caucuses. Most states hold primaries but states like Iowa, Louisiana, Minnesota and Maine use the caucus system.

GOP:Possibilities:The TOP TEN (in Alphabetical order)

JEB BUSH

BACKGROUND: Florida Governor (1999-2007) J.E.B (born John Ellis Bush, initials JEB) BUSH, a Roman Catholic convert from Episcopalian, who is the son of the 41st President of the United States George H.W. Bush and brother to the 43rd President, George W. Bush and is considered a Moderate Republican who announced his candidacy June 15 in Florida. By June he had amassed over $100 Million for his Super PAC ,”RIGHT TO RISE”.

 After high school  Jeb graduated from the University of Texas in 2 1/2 years with a diploma in Latin American Affairs, despite all his family attending Yale.After his father’s successful run for President, Jeb moved to Florida where he had a successful career as a real estate developer(1980). In 1986 he was appointed Florida’s Secretary of Commerce, leaving that job in 1988 to assist with his dad’s re-election campaign. In 1994, Jeb Bush  lost an election as Governor of Florida bur returned to win in 1998 and again in 2002.

IMMIGRATION: He wishes to grant immigrants “legal status” rather than a path to “citizenship” (Note: His wife is Mexican) which is quite different from the other GOP candidates.

FOREIGN POLICY: On foreign policy Mr. Bush stumbles. When a candidate or officeholder says something completely ridiculous, a supporter/spokesperson inevitably claims he or she misheard the question. And so it goes, May 11, with Ana Navarro, who used to work for Jeb Bush, stated Mr. Bush mishear a  question posed by Megyn Kelly of FOX  NEWS regarding the US the invasion of Iraq.

Th question, from Megyn Kelly of FOX News, was not terribly complicated: “Knowing what we know now, would you have authorized the invasion?”

Mr. Bush’s answer was that he would have done that. He went on to repeat a variety of half-truths and flat-out false statements about the history of the Iraq war resolution. Ms. Kelly helpfully tried to clarify Mr. Bush’s comments later, but in a way that made little sense.

   Again at the August 6 GOP Debate on FOX, Megyn Kelly asked the same question to which Mr. Bush responded, ”Knowing what we know now…it was a mistake (invading Iraq)” and added “ISIS was created when we left”.

ECONOMY:Expects to see a 4% growth in the economy when he is elected President. This despite the fact that no more than 2% has been seen in decades.

OTHER ITEMS: Mr. Bush is School Choice and for a voucher system. He would Not fund abortion clinics. Supports the Keystone XL and fracking. Opposed to gay marriage but will not interfere with the Constitutionality of the issue. Also he is pro-gun.

August 6th: In reference to his family’s political accomplishments, Mr Bush stated, “I’m going to have to earn this. Maybe the bar’s even higher for me.That’s fine”.

Ben Carson

BACKGROUND: Dr. BEN CARSON  a retired pediatric neurosurgeon who never held public office before and once equated “Obamacare” as a form of slavery. Dr.Carson claims that career politicians are detrimental to needed changes in our government.

ECONOMY:According to Carson, these career politicians have allowed the public debt to grow from 11.9 Trillion dollars  in 2009 to 18 Trillion dollars in 2015, all why watching the interest on that deficit to rise to be the 3rd highest budget item,  250 Billion dollars. He seeks a balanced budget amendment, He Wishes for wholesale tax reform whereby a citizen can fill it out in 15 minutes with no IRS needed.

OTHER ITEMS: wishes to overturn Common Core by returning  educational control to the local governments. The Affordable Care Act he considers a “looming disaster”. Dr. Carson is 100% Pro-life  while using his experience as a pediatric surgeon he makes claims that life begins at “conception”. He is Pro-Gun (2nd Amendment) and  is against Putin’s Russia’s strong arm tactics around the globe. He is Pro_Israel.

August 6: “I’m looking very much forward to demonstrating that, in fact, the thing that is most important is having a brain”.

CHRIS CHRISTIE: New Jersey Governor CHRIS CHRISTIE :

Issues in NJ which may impede his nomination dreams: The BRIDGE GATE  incident of September 2013 (the New Jersey side of the GW Bridge) still looms largely over his administration  and is something Christie is trying to put behind him. However, his two aides pleaded Not Guilty to the nine count indictment against them. Christie himself was Not charged.  A trial has been set for November 2015.

(May 12)The Governor of New Jersey receives $95,000 a year in expense advances, on top of a salary of $175,000, that, as described in the state budget, is meant to cover the costs of “entertaining and official receptions on behalf of the state”, and “the operation of an official residence, for other expenses.”  According to New Jersey Watchdog, Christie has spent $360,000 from that allowance ($475,000= $95,000 X 5 years) during his five years in office, and of that, $300,000 was used to buy food, alcohol and desserts. As John Winger (aka Bill Murray) so eloquently stated in STRIPES, “I want to party with you, Cowboy”.

The largest sum of this spending was done at MetLife Stadium, where the New York Jets and New York Giants play, during the 2010 and 2011 seasons. While New Jersey governors enjoy free use of luxury boxes for games and other events at the government-owned venue, food and drink cost extra. 

August 6:Quote from The Debate On New Jersey, “ If you think it is bad now,you should have seen it when I got here”. 

TED CRUZ

 BACKGROUND:SenatorTed Cruz From TEXAS,is a first generation Cuban American. However, his US citizenship has been questioned as he was born  Rafael Edward Cruz in Calgary, Ontario, Canada to an American mother and Cuban born father who was working for an oil company in Canada at the time of Cruz birth and Cruz held dual citizenship until he renounced his Canadian citizenship on May 14, 2014.

 He is a first term junior  Senator of Texas  elected in 2012, considered to be a Christian Conservative  opposed to Obama Care so much so that he single handedly attempted to  shut down the Federal Government by reading Dr. Seuss on the floor of the Senate as a filibustering technique speaking for 21 hours and 19 minutes before yielding the floor.  GOP Leader Senator Mitch McConnell stated that attempt was "not a smart play”. In an Opinion piece, The Houston Chronicle which had endorsed his candidacy for Senator regretted that Cruz had not lived up the standards set by his predecessor. 

Cruz is a graduate of Princeton University who then attended Harvard Law School where he received high honors. Cruz then served as a law clerk for US Supreme Court Justice William Rehnquist and later was employed by a Texas law firm.  He worked on the Bush/Chaney 2000 Campaign as their Domestic Policy Advisor before being appointed as Solicitor General of Texas (2003-2008). From 2008-2013, until taking office as Senator, Cruz ,again in the private sector, was a partner in a prestigious law firm. 

On April 28,2015 CRUZ on his blog stated that the Supreme Court's "unelected judges" should not hold the power to decide the Constitutionality of same sex marriages. According to his web site Cruz is considered by some as a "A great Reaganite hope" (National Review) who supports limited government, economic growth, and The Constitution. He is supported by The Republican Liberty Caucus (RLC)(Note: See PACS) and was previously sponsored by the conservative think tank Heritage Foundation (See Koch Brothers-PACS). Cruz co-sponsored the KEYSTONE XL PIPELINE ACT. He is  against gay rights due to his Christian belief and thinks that the legalization of marijuana, as well as same-sex marriages should left to each state to decide.Cruz is a proponent of school choice,he is pro- gun, and Pro-Israel.

Cruz and Foreign Policy: Stated at a REPUBLICAN JEWISH COALITION Spring 2015 Meeting and again at a meeting of EVANGELICAL PASTORS, Cruz more than once quoted Ronald Reagan's foreign policy. Cruz is hawkish on preventing Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons and dovish in his non-support of Syrian rebels  as he believes their conflict does not benefit American interests.

He presents a three (3) fold CRUZ DOCTRINE toward foreign policy: (1) Have a clearly stated objective, directly tied to US National Security. (2) Use overwhelming force to achieve that objective, do NOT tie the solders hands. (3) Get out the moment that objective is achieved- it is NOT our job to turn foreign countries into democratic utopias.#3 is a bone of contention with Marco Rubio who feels we should stay to rebuild in a democratic fashion.

Economy: "growth and opportunity".Cruz wants to abolish the IRS and impose a "flat tax" system.

August 6: “We don’t have leaders who will honor their commitments. I will always tell the truth.

MIKE HUCKABEE

BACKGROUND: Former Governor of Arkansas and television host MIKE HUCKABEE appeals to Evangelical Christians and social conservatives. Former Governor on May 5 announced his candidacy for President of United States. Huckabee a staunch conservative seeks for leaner government and a bond with God .He states that the government is too intrusive and too bloated. he asks that veterans take a top priority, and education be left to the local governments as the federal government has no constitutional authority to dictate education. Mike Huckabee appears to be taking a more populist tone then in the 2008 bid for president.

STATES RIGHTS:August 6: “It’s time that we recognize the Supreme Court is not the Supreme Being.”

JOHN KASICH

BACKGROUND:Ohio Governor JOHN KASICH: The “Home crowd favorite” at the August 6th debate, was the ONLY candidate to voice his support for treating gay Americans “with respect”.

STATES RIGHTS:

August 6: “Donald Trump is hitting a nerve in this country….He’s got his solutions, some of us have other solutions.”

RAND PAUL

BACKGROUND:Kentucky’s Senator RAND PAUL, an eye surgeon, son of Ron Paul. Rand Paul is a pro life supporter of the Tea Party Movement.

August 6: On Trump: “He’s already hedging his bets because he’s used to buying politicians”.

MARCO RUBIO

BACKGROUND:Florida’s Senator MARCO RUBIO a Cuban American who is a supporter of the (mega) CHRIST FELLOWSHIP. His religious background is Catholic and Mormon, back to Catholic and now....

Rubio constantly invokes his seats on the Senate Foreign Affairs and Intelligence committees to argue that he would be ready on his first day as president to tackle ISIS and other global threats. 

IMMIGRATION: Seeks a path to citizenship with tougher enforcement laws.

FOEIGN POLICY ( May 13) Mr. Rubio, who sits on the Senate Foreign Relations and Senate Intelligence committees, has used his time in Congress to burnish his foreign policy credits and cast himself as a defense hawk: a position that could help him stand out in a crowded primary field.

In his speech, he will promise to use American power “to oppose any violations of international waters, airspace, cyberspace or outer space,” including the “economic disruption caused when one country invades another,” according to excerpts.

And, Mr. Rubio will offer his greater vision of the country’s broader role in the world.

“As president, I will support the spread of economic and political freedom, reinforce our alliances, resist efforts by large powers to subjugate their smaller neighbors, maintain a robust commitment to transparent and effective foreign assistance programs, and advance the rights of the vulnerable, including women and the religious minorities that are so often persecuted, so that the afflicted peoples of the world know the truth: The American people hear their cries, see their suffering and most of all, desire their freedom,” he is expected to say.

ECONOMY:

August 6: “How is Hillary Clinton going to lecture me about living paycheck to paycheck? I was raised paycheck to paycheck.”

DONALD TRUMP:

IMMIGRATION:

August 6: “If it wasn’t for me, you wouldn’t even be talking about illegal immigration….This was not….on anybody’s mind until I brought it up.”

SCOTT WALKER

BACKGROUND:Wisconsin’s  two term (2010 and 2014)Governor Scott Walker, a "Fiscal conservative" Republican(Milwaukee Sentinel) who most likely will get an endorsement from the KOCH BROTHERS as the GOP Presidential Candidate .Walker’s theme on his webpage is HELP FIGHT BIG GOVERNMENT AND UNIONS. From 1993-2002 Walker served as State Assemblyman.Elected in 2010 As Governor he faced and won a recall election in 2012 which was held in response to his limiting of many collective bargaining powers for most public employees and won reelection in 2014. 

IMMIGRATION: Close the Mexican border and allow those already here to "get back in line" to seek citizenship.

FORIGN POLICY: Rescind deals for Iran obtaining arms. Scott Walker visited Israel during the first week of May 2015. The arrangements made for this trip were bye Larry Mizel the president of the Republican Jewish Coalition (See Super PACS). This visit was intended to broaden Gov. Walker's foreign policy knowledge. Mike Gallagher is Walker’s Foreign Policy Advisor. Gallagher is an Iraqi War veteran and Former Senate Foreign Relations staffer.

STATES RIGHTS: Walker is "100% pro-life" and in 2013 signed legislation requiring any woman seeking an abortion to have and view an ultrasound of the fetus prior to surgery. He seeks to ban abortions after 20 weeks.Walker is anti-gay rights and opposes recreational marijuana use considering it a "gate way drug".

August 6: “There is intentional criminal organizations penetrating our southern based borders, and we need to do something about it.”

The Non Prime Time Players AKA “THE SEVEN”

CARLY FIORINA the retired former CEO of Hewlett-Packard. removed after a struggle with the Board of Directors. is a self proclaimed social “conservative with global experience”.Ms. Florin has received most of the positive reviews after her appearance at the “HAPPY HOUR” debate, and has been the most vocal in her dissatisfaction with Donald Trump’s take on women.

 She served on the 2008 John Mc Cain Presidential bid, and unsuccessfully ran for US Senate from California in 2010. Mrs. Florin is a breast cancer survivor,2009. While at HP she did offer rights to gays and is opposed to a Constitutional Amendment banning Gay Marriage. She opposes Common Core and the Affordable Care Act (Obama Care). On the Economy she cites her experience running a top company and states that the US needs entreprenurial risk-taking not a tangled web of dependence. She favors the “little guy” as a way to grow the economy.

Fiorina accuses the Obama Administration of playing down the threat of Islamic Extremism, as not taking Putin’s Russia as a serious threat. As President she would order high profile military exercises in the Baltic States as a “clear message” to Russia.

On IMMIGRATION, Fiorina would ask for a path to citizenship be accomplished by graduating from college or completing service in the armed forces. She would also seek “tightening” the borders.

While not endorsing same sex marriage, Florin supports giving government benefits to same sex couples.

ECONOMY: Reduce government regulations, opposed the 2009 Federal stimulus package as wasteful use of taxpayers money. Florin opposes the raising of the federal minimum wage and claims the federal work force is too large. She would seek to cut their pay and base compensation on performance.

Jim Gilmore:Former Governor of Virginia

South Carolina Senator Lindsay Graham:

Louisiana's Governor BOBBY JINDAL,once a shining star of the Republican Party, Mr Jindal is a long shot for the nomination as seen by the polls and his reduction to a second tier player in the August 6th televised debate (one of the non-prime time seven). At that debate Mr. Jindal stated he would “Sic the IRS and the Department of Justice on Planned Parenthood” in an attempt to shut down the pro-abortion rights group. Asked about IMMIGRATION, Mr Jindal, whose parents came from India, said he was “tired of hyphenated Americans”. “Immigration without assimilation is an invasion”.

Former governor of New York George Pataki is expected to announce his bid for president Thursday in New Hampshire adding yet another face to the GOP pack.

Former Governor of Texas Rick Perry:

Former Senator from Pennsylvania Rick Santorum:

The DEMOCRATIC HOPEFULS:

Hilary Clinton, former first lady married to President Bill Clinton , former Senator for New York and served as Secretary of State under President Obama. Mrs. Clinton as of May 5 as well as far in cash. It should be noted that the email account was not prohibited at the time as federal rules were enacted in 2014 after she left the office however,it is considered wrong by many , it is making her emails difficult to track down( New York Post May 7).

IMMIGRATION: Revised her thoughts to now seek a path to citizenship with border protection.On May 6 she was quoted as saying she seeks “full and equal citizenship” while calling the GOP plan of legal status a “second class” of citizenship.

Vermont Senator BERNIE SANDERS a self proclaimed Independent Socialist with 30 plus years experience is willing to take on the billionaire class and stand up for working families.

Former Maryland Gov. Martin O'Malley. O'Malley stands to left of Hillary Clinton.He joined the race  June 2015.

Influential People, Players, and Super PACS:

KOCH BROTHERS: Names often cited as donors to Libertarian and Conservative Think Tanks, advocacy groups and lobbying organizations. Especially interested in those wishing to abolish Social Security, the FBI, and public education while promoting economic freedom. Currently funding think tanks; FEDERALIST SOCIETY, The HERITAGE FOUNDATION, FREEDOM WORKS (AKA: CITIZENS FOR A SOUND ECONOMY), AMERICANS FOR PROSPERITY, THE CATO INSTITUTE, FREEDOM PARTNERS (THE TEA PARTY).

CONTRACT WITH AMERICA (GOP)The Contract with America was a document released by the United States Republican Party during the 1994 Congressional election campaign. Written by Newt Gingrich and Richard Armey, and in part using text from former President Ronald Reagan's 1985 State of the Union Address, the Contract detailed the actions the Republicans promised to take if they became the majority party in the United States House of Representatives for the first time in 40 years. Many of the Contract's policy ideas originated at The Heritage Foundation, a conservative think tank.The Contract with America was introduced six weeks before the 1994 Congressional election, the first mid-term election of President Bill Clinton's Administration, and was signed by all but two of the Republican members of the House and all of the Party's non-incumbent Republican Congressional candidates.

The Contract with America was designed to include only issues that had the support of 60 percent of the public—it was supposed to be a unifying agenda of things Americans with good common horse sense agreed on. Today, that good common horse sense looks dumb.

The Contract with America had ten planks, and Republicans promised to vote on all ten in their first 100 days in office. 

Following Newt Gingrich’s model of 1994,Democratic Mayor of New York City, Bill DeBlasio in a May 6, 2015 Op Ed piece in the Washington Post put forth his plan ,“PROGRESSIVE AGENDA TO COMBAT INCOME EQUALITY”, a 13 point plan to shift the Democratic Party to the left. Asks for Pre-K, a $15.00 minimum wage,paid family leave, and “tax fairness”.

Priorities USA Action is an independent expenditure PAC that supported the re-election of President Barack Obama in 2012.^[1] The super PAC was founded by former Obama campaign officials Bill Burton and Sean Sweeney in order to collect and spend money from wealthy donors, including corporations and unions.^[2] As per FEC rules established in the wake of the Citizens United Supreme Court decision, the group is legally prohibited from coordinating with the candidate or his or her campaign. Harold M. Ickes is the president of the group. Its key backers include Paul Begala, Teddy Johnston, Geoff Garin, Ellen Malcolm, Jeffrey Katzenberg, Bill Maher, Mary Beth Cahill, and Irwin M. Jacobs.

As of 2014, Jim Messina and Jennifer Granholm (former Governor of Michigan) have been drafted to serve as co-chairs as the organization is now focusing its efforts on helping Hillary Clinton in her 2016 presidential campaign.^[3]

The group was headed by David Brock from 2014( until his resignation in February 9, 2015) is the top Democratic super PAC.

American Crossroads (americancrossroads.org),a GOP super PAC was founded by Karl Rove.

According to their website : If you ask people whether those are the times we’re living in now, most people will say no.  They’ll say: we’re passing on to our kids an America that is less prosperous, less secure and less free than the one we grew up in.  We see a Washington political culture that creates more problems for us instead of fixing the ones we already have.  We see government recklessly piling on debt and then insisting we pay it off. The people who started and support American Crossroads are united behind three simple convictions: First, we can’t keep going on like this.  Something’s got to give. Second, America deserves better than this.  Our kids deserve a better future than this. And third, it’s up to us to bring the change about.  No one else is going to do it for us. - See more at: http://www.americancrossroads.org/about/#sthash.fzttbw47.dpuf

REPUBLICAN JEWISH COALITION (RJC) includes hedge fund billionaire PAUL SINGER, Larry Mizel, PRESIDENT of RJC.

SHELDON ADELSON -Casino magnate 18th richest man in the world with assets as of May 4,2015 (Forbes) as 27.7 billion dollars.Currently on trial , A government crackdown could prove devastating to numerous causes Adelson supports. In addition to his Republican campaign donations, which totaled more than $100 million in the 2012 cycle alone, Adelson has donated hundreds of millions to cancer and other medical research, gave some $250 million to Birthright Israel in the last decade, spends a reported $33 million a year covering the losses of the free Israeli daily he owns, the fiercely pro-Netanyahu Israel Hayom, and is a main backer of such right-wing causes as the Zionist Organization of America, the Republican Jewish Coalition and Rabbi Shmuley Boteach’s This World Values Network.

CORRECT THE RECORD:  (May 13) A Democratic outside group planning to restructure itself as a “super PAC” that can coordinate more closely with Mrs. Clinton’s campaign faced a string of criticism from Republican election law experts late Tuesday.

Questions arose immediately after First Draft reported that Correct the Record, currently part of American Bridge 21st Century, the research super PAC established by David Brock, a Clinton ally, plans to become its own independent super PAC that can coordinate with the campaign and respond to attacks on Mrs. Clinton.

Election law says that a super PAC cannot coordinate with a campaign if it intends to buy ads or advocate on issues, and Republicans were quick to point out the arrangement’s potential pitfalls.