The Clown Show Starts With the Biggest Clown- Cruz is In -Fun Begins

[neverbend]

It was correct, because that's what he did. Palin is an moron, Beck is an idiot. Trump rolled out his clown, Cruz raised. Simple concept. Except for you.

Not quite! Palin as Ralph Reed the chairman of the Faith & Freedom Coalition.said “Palin’s brand among evangelicals is
as gold as the faucets in Trump tower,” In that respect Palin is a big asset to Trump especially in Iowa & further down the line
in the SEC primary states.

This Beck guy is really impaired, how does he help Cruz at all. It's almost cruel to send Beck out there he doesn't have a large
forum for his ideas, in fact he influences no one & Trump will have an absolute field day torturing this Beck guy after Beck
tries to diss Trump. Who could be as an embarrassing advocate as Beck! What's Cruz thinking?

 

[The Guesser]

This is so much freakin Fun!!!

Cruz: Establishment Has Abandoned Rubio for Trump
by Eliana Johnson January 20, 2016 6:37 PM @elianayjohnson Hollis, N.H. –

Yes, you read that right. According to Ted Cruz, the so-called Republican establishment is abandoning Florida senator Marco Rubio and uniting behind real-estate mogul Donald Trump. Cruz has long said the Republican primary would come down to two candidates, one a conservative, the other an establishment moderate. Now that Cruz and Trump are leading the polls, he’s trying his hardest to paint Trump as the latter. “We’re seeing something remarkable happening in this Republican primary,” the Texas senator told reporters on Wednesday. “Right now, the Washington establishment is abandoning Marco Rubio, they’ve made the assessment that Marco can’t win this race, and the Washington establishment is rushing over to support Donald Trump. We’re seeing that happen every day, and Mr. Trump is welcoming that support.”
Cruz and Trump have been trading barbs since last week’s Republican debate in Charleston, and Cruz’s latest broadside is in part a response to Trump’s claim that Cruz is incapable of getting along with his colleagues and, if elected, he’ll be unable to cut the sorts of deals with Congress essential to governance. “Well,” Cruz said, “I don’t think there are a whole lot of Republicans who think the problem with Republican leadership is that they’re unwilling to make deals with Democrats … and Mr. Trump’s pitch to the Washington establishment is he’s a dealmaker.
He’ll go and cut a deal with Chuck Schumer and Harry Reid and Nancy Pelosi and those deals will do exactly what John Boehner and Mitch McConnell have done, continue the failed big-government policies of this administration, continue the cronyism, continue the corporate welfare, continue Washington picking winners and losers.” So much for Ted Cruz and his friend Donald.

Read more at: http://www.nationalreview.com/corner/430159/national-review-against-donald-trump

 

[neverbend]

This is so much freakin Fun!!!

Cruz: Establishment Has Abandoned Rubio for Trump
by Eliana Johnson January 20, 2016 6:37 PM @elianayjohnson Hollis, N.H. –

Yes, you read that right. According to Ted Cruz, the so-called Republican establishment is abandoning Florida senator Marco Rubio and uniting behind real-estate mogul Donald Trump. Cruz has long said the Republican primary would come down to two candidates, one a conservative, the other an establishment moderate. Now that Cruz and Trump are leading the polls, he’s trying his hardest to paint Trump as the latter. “We’re seeing something remarkable happening in this Republican primary,” the Texas senator told reporters on Wednesday. “Right now, the Washington establishment is abandoning Marco Rubio, they’ve made the assessment that Marco can’t win this race, and the Washington establishment is rushing over to support Donald Trump. We’re seeing that happen every day, and Mr. Trump is welcoming that support.”
Cruz and Trump have been trading barbs since last week’s Republican debate in Charleston, and Cruz’s latest broadside is in part a response to Trump’s claim that Cruz is incapable of getting along with his colleagues and, if elected, he’ll be unable to cut the sorts of deals with Congress essential to governance. “Well,” Cruz said, “I don’t think there are a whole lot of Republicans who think the problem with Republican leadership is that they’re unwilling to make deals with Democrats … and Mr. Trump’s pitch to the Washington establishment is he’s a dealmaker.
He’ll go and cut a deal with Chuck Schumer and Harry Reid and Nancy Pelosi and those deals will do exactly what John Boehner and Mitch McConnell have done, continue the failed big-government policies of this administration, continue the cronyism, continue the corporate welfare, continue Washington picking winners and losers.” So much for Ted Cruz and his friend Donald.

Read more at: http://www.nationalreview.com/corner/430159/national-review-against-donald-trump

That's pretty funny, do you read National Review I'm surprised they are still in business.
How long do you think it will be before they go bankrupt?


I said from the very beginning of this thread that it was one Giant competing
against 16 dwarfs, I guess now there are about 10 dwarfs left. The funniest
episode of the campaign yet was this Ted Cruz guy he gets ahead in one outlier
poll & thinks thought he had Iowa rapped up. He's behind in the two latest polls
by 10 & 11 points. 'Earth to Ted Cruz 'Don't try to sink a battleship
with a bee-bee gun." & don't use severely impaired people like Glenn Beck as
surrogates. That's like losing in the 4th quarter 21-0 & sending in the water boy
at quarterback in an effort to spark the team!

 

[superbeets]

This is so much freakin Fun!!!

Cruz: Establishment Has Abandoned Rubio for Trump
by Eliana Johnson January 20, 2016 6:37 PM @elianayjohnson Hollis, N.H. –

Yes, you read that right. According to Ted Cruz, the so-called Republican establishment is abandoning Florida senator Marco Rubio and uniting behind real-estate mogul Donald Trump. Cruz has long said the Republican primary would come down to two candidates, one a conservative, the other an establishment moderate. Now that Cruz and Trump are leading the polls, he’s trying his hardest to paint Trump as the latter. “We’re seeing something remarkable happening in this Republican primary,” the Texas senator told reporters on Wednesday. “Right now, the Washington establishment is abandoning Marco Rubio, they’ve made the assessment that Marco can’t win this race, and the Washington establishment is rushing over to support Donald Trump. We’re seeing that happen every day, and Mr. Trump is welcoming that support.”
Cruz and Trump have been trading barbs since last week’s Republican debate in Charleston, and Cruz’s latest broadside is in part a response to Trump’s claim that Cruz is incapable of getting along with his colleagues and, if elected, he’ll be unable to cut the sorts of deals with Congress essential to governance. “Well,” Cruz said, “I don’t think there are a whole lot of Republicans who think the problem with Republican leadership is that they’re unwilling to make deals with Democrats … and Mr. Trump’s pitch to the Washington establishment is he’s a dealmaker.
He’ll go and cut a deal with Chuck Schumer and Harry Reid and Nancy Pelosi and those deals will do exactly what John Boehner and Mitch McConnell have done, continue the failed big-government policies of this administration, continue the cronyism, continue the corporate welfare, continue Washington picking winners and losers.” So much for Ted Cruz and his friend Donald.

Read more at: http://www.nationalreview.com/corner/430159/national-review-against-donald-trump

• SHARE PICTURE

​

+26


Finally, the never-ending saga of the innocent face and the very muddy paws

 

[SheriffJoe]

This is Ted Cruz's Plan For the Supreme Court

• Ben Geier

Liberals won’t like it.

If Ted Cruz is elected president, he has big plans for the Supreme Court — namely, picking extremely conservative candidates to fill any vacancies among the nine justices.

In an interview with Bloomberg, the Senator and former solicitor general from Texas said that Republicans are generally bad at picking nominees for the high court, and that he’d be different.

“Unlike many of the other candidates, I will be willing to spend the capital to ensure that every Supreme Court nominee that I put on the court is a principled judicial conservative,” Cruz said.

As solicitor general, Bloomberg notes, Cruz argued in front of the court on behalf of his state.

Cruz specifically called out Chief Justice John Roberts, appointed by George W. Bush, and Anthony Kennedy, appointed by Ronald Reagan, as bad picks. Roberts has gotten a lot of flack among conservatives in recent years for voting to uphold Obamacare, while Kennedy was castigated by the right for writing the opinion this year to legalize gay marriage.

The next president will likely have a few vacancies to fill. Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Antonin Scalia, and Anthony Kennedy will all be over 80 years old by election day, while Stephen Breyer will be 78.

So how would Cruz find truly conservative justices? He said he’d look for candidates with “a long paper trail as principled conservative jurists.” This means jurists who’ve actually made decisions, rather than the sometimes more politically palatable candidates without as much of a record.

Read more from Cruz’s interview at Bloomberg.

 

[SheriffJoe]

The Real Ted Cruz

By Theodore A. Gebhard

Contrary to some who have expressed concerns about Ted Cruz’s temperament and qualifications to be an effective president, my experience in working with the Texas senator and Republican presidential candidate during the early 2000s convinces me that he is the right person at the right time for the job.

Although not a close friend of Senator Cruz, I got to know him reasonably well as a colleague at the Federal Trade Commission from mid-2001 until he left the commission to return to Texas in 2003. During that time, we worked together on a number of projects, including efforts to curtail anticompetitive legislation pending in several states to protect incumbent businesses such as gasoline retailers and automobile dealerships, and a task force established by the FTC’s Chairman charged with looking into litigants’ abuses of legal immunities to the antitrust laws. The Chairman appointed Cruz to lead that task force, and I was one of several members.

In this capacity, I was able to observe Ted’s professional skills, his personal characteristics, and, significantly, his commitment to constitutionalism, the rule of law, and free-market economics. These personal observations impel me to conclude not only that Ted possesses the qualifications to be president in terms of intellect, temperament, and knowledge of the issues facing the country; but even more importantly, that he is uniquely the right person to lead America at this time in its history.

Ted Cruz’s Intellect Is Extraordinary

Ted’s academic credentials are well known: Princeton, Harvard Law, and clerk to the Chief Justice of the United States Supreme Court. Even these outstanding credentials do not fully reveal Ted’s extraordinary brainpower. Indeed, the first impression that I had of Ted was provided by his ability to move down a learning curve of a new subject at lightning speed and acquire knowledge and skills that most people take years to acquire.

Ted and I arrived at the FTC on the same day in 2001. At that time, I had had over twenty-five years’ experience in the antitrust field. Ted had none. He came to the agency at the behest of the White House as a reward for the work he did on behalf of George W. Bush in the Bush v. Gore recount litigation in Florida, not because of any significant antitrust background. Indeed, the chairman had not previously known Ted.

Upon arriving, however, Ted immediately immersed himself in self-study of antitrust law, consulting the major legal treatises in the field as well as reading and absorbing critical antitrust case law. Amazingly, within a few short months, Ted made himself into a superb antitrust lawyer and policy thinker. Observing this feat at first hand left me in awe of Ted’s superior intellect. He is surely one of smartest persons I have ever known.

Ted Cruz Has a Winning Temperament

Since becoming the junior senator from Texas, Ted has been labeled by some in the media as the most disliked senator among his colleagues. It is reported that he eschews many senatorial “courtesies,” and the deference to senior members expected of a junior senator. I personally find this attitude refreshing because I see it arising out of Ted’s commitment to the principles on which he campaigned, as opposed to warm feelings from his fellow senators.

In my own experience, I found Ted to be very easy to work with. I never knew him to tout his own résumé, talk down to anyone, or insist on deference to his position. To the contrary, I knew him to be consistently pleasant, generous with his time, and most importantly, always respectful of others’ views and work-product. I remember, for example, that Ted often dropped into my office to follow up on some comment or idea that I had offered during an earlier task force meeting. Those meetings generally permitted only limited discussion because of the number of people present, and Ted wanted to explore my thinking further. Unlike many persons holding titles in government, it never occurred to Ted that, because of his higher position as head of the task force, protocol would demand that I be called into his office. Such ego-driven attachment to hierarchy never mattered to Ted. To the contrary, he was only interested in getting the best ideas out of the people around him. All in all, I cannot recall a single instance when I did not enjoy interacting with Ted professionally. He not only displayed a consistent winning temperament throughout the time we were together, but did so in a way that drew out the highest quality of professional thinking from those with whom he worked and supervised.

Ted Cruz’s Knowledge of the Issues Is Deep

There is no question that today the country is in bad shape. On the domestic economic front, during the Obama years we have experienced near stagnant economic growth, a decline in labor force participation and middle-class prosperity, and a dramatic increase of big government intrusion into the economy in the form of regulatory overreach, ObamaCare, and massive market distortions owing to the failed $800 billion “stimulus” package. Many elites have accepted perpetual stagnation as the new normal.

One only need listen to Ted Cruz’s speeches or consult his detailed policy papers on his website to realize that he not only rejects this new normal but also that he understands its causes and therefore what needs to be done to bring back the dynamism that the United States’ economy has historically exhibited. In particular, Ted understands that free-market capitalism is the engine that drives growth and prosperity. He also understands that future growth and prosperity require savings and capital accumulation, not a culture of government handouts and spending coupled with a tax system that discourages work and saving. And perhaps most critically, Ted understands the importance of institutions such as the rule of law and sound money to the efficiency of free-market capitalism. The free market engine only works when it is well lubricated and when it rests on a solid legal and monetary foundation.

Significantly, among all the Republican candidates, Ted Cruz is the only one who can be counted on to remain fully committed to the kind of economic freedom that the country desperately needs to restore its economic dynamism. Contrast him with Donald Trump, who shows a near total absence of economic literacy as exemplified by his pronouncements on trade, healthcare markets, and property rights. Or consider the stark contrast with Senator Marco Rubio, who, despite lauding free markets in nearly every campaign speech, could not wait, in the interest of political expediency, to vote for continuation of the New Deal era anti-free market sugar program after arriving to the senate. In contrast, Ted Cruz has never deviated from a commitment to free trade and unimpaired markets. Indeed, in Iowa he rejected all temptation to pander to voters by lending support to the market-distorting federal ethanol mandates that are so important to certain rent-seeking segments of the Iowa farm economy. Whereas Donald Trump’s and Marco Rubio’s blatant hypocrisy brings into doubt the extent to which either can be trusted to hold steady to free market principles in the face of political opposition, Senator Cruz’s courage and commitment to economic freedom cannot be questioned.

In addition to economic issues, it is clear that Ted Cruz is superior to all other candidates respecting his understanding of and commitment to America’s founding constitutional order, including federalism, the separation of powers, and the protection of individual liberty against government coercion. One only need observe Ted’s passion whenever he talks about religious liberty, the rights given under the Second Amendment, and the most fundamental of all liberty rights, the right to life and self-ownership. Compare Ted, for example, to the constitutionally challenged Donald Trump, who wants to disregard the rule of law and the separation of powers as much as President Obama, and instead simply substitute his own version of an imperial presidency. This is not the place to list the near endless examples of Obama’s lawlessness or the ways that Donald Trump would mimic that lawlessness, but I think that it is evident that a Ted Cruz administration would be the antithesis of such lawlessness. The founding principles anchored in individual liberty would be the focal point of a Cruz administration.

I will not dwell on foreign policy because it is outside of my area of competence. As a citizen, however, I share the dismay of many of my fellow Americans at the decline in American prestige and respect as a beacon of liberty that has occurred during the Obama years. Knowing Ted Cruz as I do, I have every confidence that, as president, he would restore America’s leadership among the world’s democracies. I have no such confidence that Mrs. Clinton would achieve such a result. I have little confidence that any of the other Republican candidates, and surely not the carnival barker Donald Trump, would have the seriousness of purpose necessary to secure America’s safety, restore its world leadership role, and maintain the fear and respect of its enemies.

Ted Cruz Is Uniquely the Right Person for President at this Time in History

America has traveled along the path of ever-increasing statism for the better part of a century. From the progressive era onwards, the left has fostered the view that the founders’ Constitution, which was focused on the protection of individual liberty by constraining the powers of government, needs to be reinterpreted to encompass an ever-growing state that solves problems, awards new rights at the expense of others’, and redistributes wealth. The result is a monstrous and intrusive federal government, a constantly increasing dependency on government handouts, a stagnant economy, and a long period of declining American influence in world affairs. America is presently in bad shape and on a wayward course. In my view, America will continue to decline and, indeed, ultimately implode if it continues on the same course. To prevent this outcome, it is imperative that Americans, both individually and collectively as a nation, restore respect for and fidelity to our founding principles, most importantly the rule of law as embodied in the original meaning of the Constitution and its amendments. No other candidate comes as close to having the qualifications, the depth of constitutional knowledge, and the commitment to the American founding as Ted Cruz. If America is to survive as a reservoir of liberty, prosperity, and human dignity, it is crucial that we abandon the errant path that we have followed too long and elect a man like Ted Cruz.

Mr. Gebhard is an antitrust lawyer and economist residing in Arlington, Va. He was a colleague of Senator Cruz’s at the Federal Trade Commission from mid-2001 until 2003.

 

[The Guesser]

Go Ted Go, Go Ted Go.

 

[The Guesser]

Ben Carson Accuses Ted Cruz of Dirty Tricks at Iowa Caucuses

• Tessa Berenson @tcberenson

11:47 PM ET



Ben Carson was incensed as the results of Monday night’s Iowa caucuses rolled in, accusing the winner of spreading falsehoods about him at caucus sites.
Carson’s team claimed that Cruz’s campaign deliberately sent emails to supporters to spread false rumors at caucus sites that Carson had dropped out, so his supporters would caucus for other candidates.
“That is really quite a dirty trick,” Carson said speaking to reporters at the end of the evening. “That’s the very kind of thing that irritated me enough to get into this quagmire.”

“To have campaigns come out and send emails to their caucus speakers suggesting that Dr. Carson was doing anything but moving forward after tonight is the lowest of low in American politics,” said Carson campaign manager Ed Brookover.
“This is horseshit,” Rob Taylor, Iowa state representative and Carson’s Iowa co-chair, said simply.
Members of Carson’s team furnished evidence of various precinct captains alleging misconduct by the Cruz campaign.
Ryan Rhodes, Carson’s Iowa state director, showed reporters a text on his phone from Barbara Heki, a Mike Huckabee supporter. “The Cruz speakers at our caucus announced Carson was suspending his campaign for a while after caucus. They did this before the vote. Same thing happened at another caucus. Sounds like slimy Cruzing to me,” the text read.
Jason Osborne, Carson’s deputy senior strategist, read aloud another missive, this one an email from their precinct chair in Muscatine: “The guy speaking for Ted Cruz right before the vote, he was supposed to be done, he announced that there was a story on CNN that Ben Carson was taking a break after Iowa, and then stated, ‘So you might want to rethink wasting your vote on him.'”
Cruz’s team flatly denies the allegations. “That’s absurd,” spokesperson Catherine Frazier said simply.

 

[superbeets]

Ben Carson Accuses Ted Cruz of Dirty Tricks at Iowa Caucuses

 

[superbeets]

Looking ahead to New Hampshire
The New Hampshire primary is February 9, where Bernie Sanders will hope to extend his surge and Donald Trump expects to bounce back.

 

[superbeets]

[h=3]This was how it all began when, last March, he became the first candidate to declare in March last year:[/h]
I'm running for President and I hope to earn your support!

• RETWEETS13,172
• LIKES11,656
• 

9:09 p.m. - 22 Mar 2015


Reply

Retweet




Like


More

 

[superbeets]

 

[superbeets]

'To God be the glory. Tonight is a victory for the grassroots': Victorious Ted Cruz hails the religious vote for his Iowa triumph - and attacks his own party's establishment

• Ted Cruz has won the Iowa primary, the first in the nation, with 28% of the vote to Donald Trump's 24%
• Massive upset for pollsters who had Trump on as much as 40% - and Ted Cruz celebrates with his wife at victory party
• 'To God be the glory,' he said at start of speech in acknowledgement of the crucial role of religious right voters in propelling him to win
• Quoted Pslam 30 - 'joy cometh with the morning' to reference Ronald Reagan by saying: 'Iowa has proved to the world that morning is coming.'
• Cruz portrayed his victory as an attack on the Washington establishment, including his own party

By LAURA COLLINS IN DES MOINES, IOWA, FOR DAILYMAIL.COM
PUBLISHED: 05:41, 2 February 2016 | UPDATED: 06:43, 2 February 2016



An emotional Ted Cruz quoted psalms and scriptures as he celebrated his win in the Iowa caucuses and declared it a victory for the grassroots over the Washington establishment.
Flanked by his wife and parents Senator Cruz took to the stage Elwell Center in Iowa State Fair with the words: 'To God be the glory. God bless the great state of Iowa.'
To rapturous applause, whoops and hollers from the 500 or so party faithful who had waited patiently for the senator's arrival he declared: 'Tonight is a victory for the grass roots.



.

+15


Victory kiss: Heidi Cruz congratulates her husband at the end of his lengthy - and highly religious- victory speech

+15



Victory hug and kiss: Heidi Cruz was on stage to congratulate her husband Ted after his victory

+15


Flanked by his wife and parents Senator Cruz took to the stage Elwell Center in Iowa State Fair with the words: 'To God be the glory. God bless the great state of Iowa'

'Tonight is a victory for the greatest conservatives across Iowa. Tonight the state of Iowa has spoken.'
In what appeared to be a sideswipe at Trump, he added: 'Iowa has sent a note that the next President of the United States will not be chosen by the media. He will not be chosen by the Washington establishment [or] by the lobbyists…but will be chosen by the most incredible powerful force, where all sovereignty resides in this nation – by we the people.'
Quoting from Psalm 30, to knowing comments and applause from the assembled faithful he noted: 'Weeping may tarry for the night but joy cometh with the morning.'

+15


Won it: Ted Cruz brought his wife Heidi on stage in Des Moines and was applauded by his father Rafael (right)

+15


FAMILY AFFAIR: Ted Cruz's mother Eleanor and his father Rafael were both on stage to celebrate

+15


FAMILY CELEBRATIONS: One of Ted Cruz's young daughters was also on stage as her father prepared to speak


.

Heidi with the couple's daughter. 'Tonight is a victory for the greatest conservatives across Iowa. Tonight the state of Iowa has spoken,' said Cruz

Shouts of 'Amen!' and 'Alleluia!' could be heard as he stated - in a nod to Ronald Reagan's slogan 'It's morning in America': 'Tonight Iowa has proved to the world that morning is coming.'
'Iowa loves you Ted!' shouted a member of the crowd. 'And I love Iowa' came the senators response.
By 9.25 this evening the crowd gathered in hope had truly begun to realize that they were assembled for a victory rally as Cruz took 28 % of the vote and polled the highest number of votes for any Republican candidate in caucus history.

+15


Home crowd: The Ted Cruz supporters were watching as the race was called for their candidate and erupted into cheers

+15


Done it: Josh Kent celebrates at Ted Cruz's caucus night rally as it turned into a victory rally - and Donald Trump tasted defeat, coming second and being run close by Marco Rubio

+15


Taste of victory: A young supporter joins in the jubilation at the Ted Cruz party as his win is declared

+15


Cruz control: Cathy Landtroop, left, and Austin Taylor had backed Ted Cruz and were there to celebrate at his party




Earlier in the evening the atmosphere in the Elwell Center had been part church fete part football game intermission as supporters milled around, drinking beer, eating hot dogs and waiting.
With each report of an increase in Senator Cruz's percentage a burst of whooping and applause would break out and when the win was finally announced the room erupted.

.

'We did it!' one supporter shouted. A man wearing a badge stating, 'Don't Believe the Liberal Media' pumped his fist, couples hugged and previously bewildered children giggled excitedly.
For Carol Kitson, 61, Cruz's victory marks the end of many hours of effort. The retired Glaxo Klein employee from Texas said: 'I've spent today making lots and lots of phone calls. I represented Ted in a caucus and spoke for three minutes.


'To God be the glory': Cruz sweeps Iowa Republican caucus

.

+15


For Carol Kitson, 61, Cruz's victory marks the end of many hours of effort. The retired Glaxo Klein employee from Texas said: 'I've spent today making lots and lots of phone calls. I represented Ted in a caucus and spoke for three minutes'

+15


As Commander in Chief, Cruz vowed that he would 'fulfill the most solemn obligation of the President; to keep this nation safe'

'I'm from Texas and I came to help – this is all new to me.
'I've supported Ted since he entered the race to be a senator in Texas.'


.
She was, she said, looking forward to having a good time and taking lots of photos to post on Facebook.
She said: 'I'm really excited. I've never met a politician who's so approachable and down to earth and brilliant as Ted Cruz. He's the man for the job.'
She added: 'It's always fun to wake up a winner.'
'Trump's crying' somebody shouted from the back as the crowd grew impatient to see their man of the moment. Some, overcome with emotion, had wept when the news of Senator Cruz's victory finally broke.
Barbara Durkee, 56, had driven nine hours from Arkansas to support her candidate of choice tonight. She said: 'He came to Arkansas in August and I put on a fundraiser dinner for him and we raised $27,000.
'I had been undecided about him at the point but I met him that night and he had my vote 100 %.
'He's sincere and honest. He has integrity.'

+15


Reaching out to evangelicals: Cruz went to every one of Iowa's 99 counties - known as a full Grassley after Iowa senator Chuck Grassley - and in many of them went to churches to make his case for the Christian vote

Later she listened, rapt, as the senator spoke about Obamacare, border security, life and marriage and religious liberty, his championing of the second amendment and his commitment to 'stand unapologetically with the nation of Israel.'
As Commander in Chief, Cruz vowed that he would 'fulfill the most solemn obligation of the President; to keep this nation safe.'
And he was not, he said, afraid of naming the greatest threat to its safety - 'radical Islamic terrorists,' the crowd chimed in as he spoke.
Cruz spared little time for his Democratic opponent – unclear as it was quite who that opponent might be.
He said simply, 'The Democrats seem to be in a virtual tie between one candidate who admits he's a socialist and another who pretends she's not.'
'I wish them both luck,' he said before quoting former British prime minister Margaret Thatcher and saying: 'The problem with socialism is it actually relies on other people's money.'
He added: 'I cannot wait to stand on the debate stand with Hillary Clinton.'


.

 

[superbeets]

[h=1]Trump puts brave face on defeat as he congratulates Ted Cruz, says he WILL win New Hampshire – and claims he loves Iowa so much 'I might come here and buy a farm!'[/h]

• Defeat by convincing margin to Ted Cruz is blow to Republican front-runner who had predicted 'huge' vote in his favor
• Watched on stage by his family, including wife Melania and daughter Ivanka, he was upbeat and said he would win in New Hampshire
• Claimed 'I love the people of Iowa' and wanted to buy a farm - before saying he will be in New Hampshire tomorrow

By DAVID MARTOSKO, US POLITICAL EDITOR FOR DAILYMAIL.COM IN WEST DES MOINES, IOWA
PUBLISHED: 04:52, 2 February 2016 | UPDATED: 07:03, 2 February 2016




Donald Trump gave a brief concession speech Monday night – the shortest speech of his long presidential campaign – after finishing second in the Iowa caucuses.
He had said on the campaign trail that he wanted to win in the Hawkeye State, and dismissed the idea of lowering expectations by merely saying he hoped to do well.
But instead of offering a sheepish shrug in defeat, he turned the moment into a classy and gracious high-road concession.
'On June 16th, when we started this journey, there were 17 candidates. I was told by everybody, "Do not go to Iowa, you could never finish even in the top 10".'

+10


Kiss victory goodbye: Trump blows a kiss to the audience as he concedes defeat to Ted Cruz, watched by his wife Melania and sons Eric (left) and Donald Jnr (right) and Donald Jnr's wife Vanessa Haydon

+10


All here: Donald Trump was joined on stage by (from left) son-in-law Jared Kushner, daughter-in-law Lara Yuaska, daughter Ivanka, son Eric, wife Melania, daughter-in-law Vanessa Haydon and son Donald Jnr

+10


Pride: Donald Trump thanked his family for their part in the campaign - and was watched by his daughter Ivanka, who is eight months pregnant with her third child

+10


Admission: Trump said he did not feel bad about losing to Ted Cruz 'I want to tell you something: I'm just honored. I'm really honored.'

+10


Down to you: Trump made his brief speech about the people of Iowa - and did not use his campaign slogan 'Make America Great Again' at all



.
'And I said, "But I have friends in Iowa, I know a lot of people in Iowa. I think they'll really like me. Let's give it a shot."
'They said "Don't do it." I said "I have to do it".'
'And we finished second, and I want to tell you something: I'm just honored. I'm really honored.'
Trump had no harsh words for his fellow Republicans, after weeks of berating them in the hope of depressing their Iowa support.
'I want to congratulate Ted,' he said, referring to Texas Sen. Ted Cruz, who won the caucuses with 6,000 more votes than Trump collected.
'And I want to congratulate all of the incredible candidates.'
Trump made special mention of former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee, whom he said 'has become a really good friend of mine.'

.
Huckabee bowed out of the presidential race on Monday night after posting a dismal finish of less than 2 per cent support.
'It's time to officially suspend the campaign, but not because of the votes,' Huckabee joked to supporters. 'It's because of illness – obviously the voters are sick of me and I need to acknowledge that.'
Trump is scheduled to hold a rally in Little Rock, the capital of Arkansas, on Wednesday. That could be a moment when Huckabee, who won the Iowa caucuses in 2008, endorses him.
The Donald could use the momentum going into the New Hampshire primary season.
'We've had every indication, we're going now on, we've had a poll. We're at 28 points ahead in New Hampshire. We love New Hampshire,' he said, adding that 'I think we're going to be proclaiming victory – I hope.'

+10


Onwards: Trump said he would be focused on his campaign in New Hampshire, claiming he has a 28 point lead there

+10


No pouting: Donald blew kisses to fans as his family tried to appear upbeat alongside him on stage


.

Exit stage left: Donald Trump's campaign in Iowa is over and he came in second but tomorrow he - and the other surviving candidates hit New Hampshire. He hinted at Mike Huckabee endorsing him this week

+10


That's all folks: Workers dismantled Trump's stage within minutes of him leaving for his private jet


.


'I don't know who's gonna win between Bernie and Hillary,' he said. 'I don't know what's going to happen with Hillary. She's got other problems, maybe bigger than the problems she's got in terms of nominations.'
'But we've had so many different indications and polls that we beat her and we beat her easily. And we will go on to get the Republican nomination and we will go on to easily beat Hillary or Bernie or whoever the hell else they throw up there.'
He ended by saying Iowans are 'special.'
'We will be back here many, many times. In fact, I think I might come here and buy a farm. I love it!'


.

 

[superbeets]

[h=3]IOWA CAUCUS SPEECH HIGHLIGHTS[/h]TED CRUZ

Cruz at his rally Monday night

'Let me first of all say, to god be the glory. Tonight is a victory for the grassroots. Tonight is a victory for courageous conservatives across Iowa, and all across this great nation. Tonight the state of Iowa has spoken. Iowa has sent notice that the Republican nominee for the next president of the United States will not be chosen by the media. Will not be chosen by the Washington establishment. Will not be chosen by the lobbyists. But will be chosen by the most incredible powerful force, where all sovereignty resides in our nation by we the people. The American people.'
'Tonight is a victory for millions of Americans, who have shouldered the burden of seven years of Washington deals run amok. Tonight is a victory for every American who's watched in display as career politicians in Washington in both parties refuse to listen and too often fail to keep their commitments to the people. Tonight is a victory for every American who understands that after we survive eight long years of the Obama presidency, that no one personality can right the wrongs done by Washington.'
'The Democrats here seem to be in a virtual tie between one candidate who admits he’s a socialist and the other candidate who pretends she’s not. I wish them both luck.'

DONALD TRUMP

Trump at his rally Monday night

'We finished second, and I want to tell you something: I'm just honored. I'm really honored. And I want to congratulate Ted, and I want to congratulate all of the incredible candidates, including Mike Huckabee, who has become a really good friend of mine.'
'Iowa, we love you. We thank you. You're special. We will be back many, many times. In fact, I think I might come here and buy a farm. I love it!'
'We love New Hampshire. We love South Carolina. And we're leaving tonight and tomorrow afternoon we'll be in New Hampshire. And that will be something special. It's going to be a great week. I think we're going to be proclaiming victory, I hope.'
MARCO RUBIO

Rubio at his rally Monday night

'For months, for months they told us we had no chance. For months they told us because we offer too much optimism in a time of anger, we had no chance. For months they told us because we didn't have the right endorsements or the right political connections, we had no chance. They told me that we have no chance because my hair wasn't gray enough and my boots were too high. They told me I needed to wait my turn, that I needed to wait in line. But tonight, tonight here in Iowa, the people of this great state have sent a very clear message. After seven years of Barack Obama, we are not waiting any longer to take our country back.'
'Hillary Clinton is disqualified from being the president of the United States. Because she stored classified and sensitive information on her e-mail server, because she thinks she's above the law. Hillary Clinton can never be commander in chief. Because anyone who lies to the families of people who lost their lives in service of this country can never be commander in chief of the United States.'
HILLARY CLINTON

Clinton at her rally Monday night

'So I stand here tonight, breathing a big sigh of relief: Thank you, Iowa.'
'I love all of you. Here's what I want you to know. It is rare that we have the opportunity we do now, to have a real contest of ideas. To really think hard about what the Democratic Party stands for and what we want the future of our country to look like if we do our part to build it. I am a progressive who gets things done for people. I am honored to stand in the long line of American reformers who make up our minds that the status quo is not good enough. That standing still is not an option. And that brings people together to find ways forward that will improve the lives of Americans.'
'I know we can combat climate change and be the clean energy superpower of the 21st century. I know we can make our education system work for every one of our children, especially those who come with disadvantages. I know we can make college affordable and get student debt off the backs of young people. And I know we can protect our rights, women's rights, gay rights, voting rights, immigrant rights, workers rights. I know too we can stand up to the gun lobby and get common sense gun safety measures. And how do we do that? We do that by securing the nomination, and then we do it by winning and going into that white house as others before have, determined to push forward on the great goals and values that unite us as Americans.'
BERNIE SANDERS

Sanders at his rally Monday night

'Thank you. Iowa, thank you. Nine months ago, we came to this beautiful state. We had no political organization; we had no money; no name recognition. And we were taking on the most powerful political organization in the United States of America. And tonight while the results are still not known, it looks like we are in a virtual tie.'
'We do not represent the interests of the billionaire class, Wall Street or corporate America. We don't want their money. We will -- and I am very proud to tell you, we are the only candidate on the Democratic side without a super PAC. And the reason that we have done so well here in Iowa, the reason I believe we're going to do so well in New Hampshire, and in the other states that follow, the reason is, the American people are saying, "no to a rigged economy." They no longer want to see an economy in which the average American works longer hours for low wages while almost all new income and wealth is going to the top one percent.'
'So I say to the Republicans, stop worrying about your campaign funds from big oil or the Koch brothers worry about the planet you're going to be leaving your children and your grandchildren.'



.

 

[superbeets]

Worst political excuse ever? Fourth-placed Ben Carson flees Iowa for Florida before the results are in - claiming he needs to pick up fresh CLOTHES

• Ben Carson told reporters he was leaving Iowa early on Monday to go back to Florida and get some fresh clothes
• His campaign later confirmed this in statement they released to the media
• 'After spending 18 consecutive days on the campaign trail, Dr. Carson needs to go home and get a fresh set of clothes,' said Carson's campaign
• The statement also shot down rumors that Carson was suspending his campaign at this time
• Jeb Bush also left Iowa early to head to New Hampshire and start campaigning for next week's primary in that state

By CHRIS SPARGO FOR DAILYMAIL.COM


PUBLISHED: 04:06, 2 February 2016 | UPDATED: 06:29, 2 February 2016



Ben Carson may have come up short in Iowa but he is ready to get back out on the campaign trail - as soon as he gets some fresh clothes.
In one of his most bizarre statements to date, Carson told reporters on Monday that he would be leaving Iowa early so he could go to Florida and get some clean clothes.
His communications director Larry Ross then confirmed this in a statement released to the media, which read; 'After spending 18 consecutive days on the campaign trail, Dr. Carson needs to go home and get a fresh set of clothes.'
The statement also shot down rumors that Carson was suspending his campaign.



.

+4


Ben Carson (above on Sunday) told reporters he was leaving Iowa early on Monday to go back to Florida and get some fresh clothes

+4


Candy Carson speaks to supporters at her husband's campaign's caucus night rally before the results came in on Monday

+4


Soon after Carson shared his reason for leaving Iowa, memes (above) and commentary began to spring up across social media

Soon after Carson shared his reason for leaving Iowa, memes and commentary began to spring up across social media.
One Twitter user posted an image of Carson with lyrics from The Smiths' This Charming Man, writing; 'I would go out tonight / but I haven't got a stitch to wear.'
Even Anderson Cooper was bewildered by Carson's reasoning, saying; 'Frankly, I've been wearing this suit for four days.'

+4


















Ross also said in his statement; '[Carson] will be departing Des Moines later tonight to avoid the snow storm and will be back on the trail Wednesday.
'We look forward to tonight’s caucus results and to meaningful debates in New Hampshire and South Carolina.'
Carson finished in fourth place in the Iowa caucus, well behind the top three finishers of the night - Ted Cruz, Marco Rubio and Donald Trump - but also well ahead of the rest of the field.
Also getting out of Iowa early was Jeb Bush, who finished sixth behind Rand Paul.
Bush and his team left before Monday to concentrate their efforts on New Hampshire, the site of the next primary vote which will take place next Tuesday.
Bush won only 2.8% of the Iowa vote and came sixth.
Also heading out of Iowa early was Carly Fiorina, who skipped her own rally to fly out of the state and avoid the oncoming storm.


.

 

[The Guesser]

That's pretty funny, do you read National Review I'm surprised they are still in business.
How long do you think it will be before they go bankrupt?


I said from the very beginning of this thread that it was one Giant competing
against 16 dwarfs, I guess now there are about 10 dwarfs left. The funniest
episode of the campaign yet was this Ted Cruz guy he gets ahead in one outlier
poll & thinks thought he had Iowa rapped up. He's behind in the two latest polls
by 10 & 11 points. 'Earth to Ted Cruz 'Don't try to sink a battleship
with a bee-bee gun." & don't use severely impaired people like Glenn Beck as
surrogates. That's like losing in the 4th quarter 21-0 & sending in the water boy
at quarterback in an effort to spark the team!

Um, How's "The Giant" looking today. On a brighter note for Trumpets, you can now get him at over 2-1 to win the nomination again.

 

[superbeets]

If you bump into Ben Carson, hope you are wearing a belt.

 

[superbeets]

[h=2]Democrats in chaos: Hillary brazenly proclaims victory in Iowa and says it was 'a big relief' only for Bernie Sanders to say minutes later 'it's a tie'[/h]

Hillary Clinton (pictured left with Bill and Chelsea) suggested tonight that she'd won the the Iowa caucuses even as the votes were still being counted. The former first lady took the stage at her victory party at Drake University in Des Moines and said, 'As I stand here tonight, breathing a big sigh of relief - thank you, Iowa!' 'I want you to know I will keep doing my entire life, I will keep standing up for you I will keep fighting for you.' Clinton was leading by Sanders by less than one percent when she gave the rousing speech just before 10:30 pm local time. Sanders (right) on the other hand said it was a 'virtual tie' in his own remarks later.

 

[superbeets]

[h=1]Hillary brazenly proclaims victory in Iowa and says it was 'a big relief' - only for Bernie Sanders to say minutes later 'it's a tie'[/h]

• The former first lady took the stage at her victory party and said, 'As I stand here tonight, breathing a big sigh of relief - thank you, Iowa!'
• Clinton was leading by Sanders by less than one percent when she gave the rousing speech; a half hour later he called it a 'virtual tie'
• He later called it a 'victory' for his revolution in an email to supporters
• The race was still too close to call at midnight local time

By FRANCESCA CHAMBERS, WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT FOR DAILYMAIL.COM IN DES MOINES
PUBLISHED: 05:06, 2 February 2016 | UPDATED: 07:02, 2 February 2016
Hillary Clinton suggested tonight that she'd won the the Iowa caucuses even as the votes were still being counted.
The former first lady took the stage at her victory party at Drake University in Des Moines and said, 'As I stand here tonight, breathing a big sigh of relief - thank you, Iowa!'
'I want you to know I will keep doing my entire life, I will keep standing up for you I will keep fighting for you.'
Clinton was leading by Sanders by less than one percent when she gave the rousing speech just before 10:30 pm local time.
Sanders on the other hand said it was a 'virtual tie' in his own remarks a half hour later and called it a 'victory' for his revolution in an email to supporters.



.

+6


Hillary Clinton suggested tonight that she'd won the the Iowa caucuses even as the votes were still being counted

+6


Clinton was leading by Sanders by less than one percent when she gave the rousing speech just before 10:30 pm local time

+6


The former first lady took the stage at her victory party at Drake University in Des Moines and said, 'As I stand here tonight, breathing a big sigh of relief - thank you, Iowa!'

+6


Sanders on the other hand said it was a 'virtual tie' in his own remarks a half hour later and called it a 'victory' for his revolution in an email to supporters

'It is just too late for establishment politics and establishment economics,' he told his supporters, gathered at a Holiday Inn near the Des Moines airport.
A snow storm on the way, the Democratic candidates were on a tight schedule to get out of Iowa before she lost a crucial day on the campaign trail, and to give their speeches early.
She and Sanders were set to take overnight charters to New Hampshire to get a jump on their campaigning there. The Granite State is the next to vote in the national nomination contest.
Surveys of the state show Sanders ahead and neither candidate has time to waste in Iowa now that the votes have been cast, if not tallied.
Clinton gave a shortened version of her stump speech tonight and said, 'I am a progressive who gets things done for people.'
'We have to be united when it is all said and done against a Republican vision and candidates who would drive us apart and divide us. That's not who we are, my friends,' she said.
She said she was 'deeply grateful' for the supporters, one of whom yelled at her, 'We love you Hillary!
'Well I love all of you,' she replied.
The national front-runner in the race acknowledged that the race was far from over and she said, 'It is rare that we have the opportunity that we do now to have a real contest of ideas, to really think hard abut what the Democratic Party stands for and what we want he future of our county to look like.'

.
At his own rally Sanders said, 'And tonight, while the results are still not known, it looks like we are in a virtual tie.'
'And while the results are still not complete it looks like we'll have about half of the Iowa delegates. I want to take this opportunity to congratulate Secretary Clinton.'
The democratic socialist and independent politician recalled his unanticipated rise in the polls to become a formidable force in the 2016 race.
'We had no money, we had no name recognition, and we were taking on the most powerful political organization in the United States of America,' he said of Clinton and her network.
Clinton and her husband have spent more than four decades in politics, first in Arkansas, then in the White House during Bill's two-term presidency.
At the end of his presidency she ran for and won a seat in the U.S. senate representing New York.
She ran for president in 2008 but was unable to overcome an underdog challenge from Barack Obama - who surged after he beat her in an Iowa upset - and she failed to secure the Democratic nomination.
Flashforward to 2016, and she's living the same nightmare as Sanders came from behind to statistically tie her on caucus night.
'Given the enormous crisis facing our country, it is just too late for establishment politics and establishment economics,' he said tonight.
And afterward he sent an email to supporters that said, 'Tonight we accomplished what the corporate media and political establishment once believed was impossible: after trailing Hillary Clinton in Iowa throughout this entire campaign, it looks as if we will leave the state with roughly the same number of delegates.'

+6


Sanders, a democratic socialist and independent politician, recalled his unanticipated rise in the polls to become a formidable force in the 2016 race. He's seen here tonight at his celebratory party in Des Moines

+6


ANTICIPATION: A Sanders support at his watch party stares at a screen showing the results of the Democratic primary for president. As of midnight, the race was too close to call

'I want to be clear with you about what this really means. Tonight’s result is a victory for our political revolution. We have proved that when people come together, anything is possible.'
Sanders said that if his campaign wins in New Hampshire, 'we’ll have all the momentum.'
'Victory is within our reach. But winning will require the active participation of millions of Americans in every community across the country — nothing less than a political revolution.'
Preempting him again, Clinton told her backers, she was 'grateful' for their hard work.
'You never lost faith. Anytime we got knocked down, you got right back up,' she said. 'None of this would have been possible without you.'
Clinton congratulated her opponents 'for a hard-fought race' sand said she's looking forward to Thursday's debate in New Hampshire, hosted by MSNBC, a late addition to the schedule that came at the request of Clinton's opponents.
Martin O'Malley, the third wheel in the Democratic race and the contender demanding additional talk time, bowed out tonight after a devastating finish in the caucuses that would have put his campaign on life support. Rather than artificially inflate his campaign, he suspended it when the results began to come in.

.