Althouse: "John Kasich is saying he might go to the Republican convention with more delegates than anyone else."

March 16, 2016

"John Kasich is saying he might go to the Republican convention with more delegates than anyone else."

"And now, I'm afraid all the remaining Republican candidates might be mentally ill."

And: "When the left stops Trump from speaking, Trump wins. He gets to tell his people that the forces of far-left activism and political correctness are trying to silence him."

49 comments:

rhhardin said...: Kasich produces idiotic stirrings with his voice of maturity perfectly serving as the voice of the double-dealing Republican establishment, to his listeners.; 3/16/16, 7:17 AM
rehajm said...: This morning RNC Rules committee member Curly Haugland was making the rounds throwing the primary process under the bus, pointing out the political parties chose their respective nominees, not primary voters.

Curly Haugland forecasting a long Summer; 3/16/16, 7:17 AM
Brando said...: A few thoughts:

1) Kasich has to say that--what do we expect? That he's going to say "I have no prayer, but hey why not keep accepting your donations and your futile votes"? Sure, it's technically true he could win ever primary from here on out, but that's not going to happen. This isn't a year for someone like Kasich.

2) Was anyone under the illusion that Mitt Romney was "influential"? Even when he was the nominee he wasn't influential! He let everyone lead him by the nose, from his own party to the whims of the media to the general electorate. That beta male behavior is one of the reasons he lost.

3) I don't see how losing Ohio helps Trump--if he'd won Ohio, his delegate lead would be even greater. Either way, there's no way anyone overtakes him in the rest of these primaries. But Ohio would have only helped that. Kasich being in the race isn't going to make much difference.; 3/16/16, 7:24 AM
rhhardin said...: Losing Ohio keeps Kasich in, which splits the anti-Trump vote, leading to a better chance for Trump to take more of the winner-takes-all primaries coming up even against a plurality of anti-Trump voters.; 3/16/16, 7:31 AM
TreeJoe said...: ABCNews/George Stephanopolous had a "breaking news" story that Kasish won Ohio and that this now throws the entire Republican race into question and stops Trumps momentum. That's almost verbatim. They brought up a delegate map showing Trump had 4.5x the delegates of Kasich - i.e. Trump had half the delegates needed to win, Kasich had 1/10th.....and stated that it now looked like a contested convention.

They were thrilled to be giving this news. It's disgusting. Regardless of your happiness or despise of Trump, let the people vote.; 3/16/16, 7:38 AM
HT said...: That's one way to look at it. On the other hand, Kasich staying in keeps some tension and guessing in the race, meaning, if Kasich drops out and Trump just starts winning, then it's over that much quicker and the Rs will have a harder time justifying a brokered convention. That's just a guess. And, having said that, to me it's hard to imagine that type of convention after Pribus said what he did before one of the debates.

Two more precincts to be counted in Mo. Trump leads by 2000 votes.; 3/16/16, 7:39 AM
traditionalguy said...: Keeping Cay-sick in the mix gives Fox an excuse to say they have a debate in Salt Lake City. Kelly can brilliantly tear up two Republican wannabes she will aggressively expose to be phony and smelly, while Trump talks with the AIPAC Jewish leaders that he will need in New York, and probably gets a bigger TV audience.

Kelly started the silly season with a phony Mysogony slander of a Cartoon Trump and that weak tea is all Hillary has left now. The election is as good as over.; 3/16/16, 7:40 AM
Limited blogger said...: Megyn Kelly's personal grudge against Trump is so unprofessional. She becomes quite 'ugly' when snarling about something she doesn't like about Trump. She needs to stay impartial and give the people the information they need to make their choice.; 3/16/16, 7:46 AM
Sebastian said...: "When the left stops Trump from speaking, Trump wins. He gets to tell his people that the forces of far-left activism and political correctness are trying to silence him. Implicitly, he is suggesting to his followers that when he becomes president, the tides will turn: see his promise to make it easier to sue newspapers for criticizing him. Trump supporters adore this shtick. Stop giving them ammunition." The left doesn't care about giving other people "ammunition." They care about actually crushing opponents by any means necessary to achieve all the power they can. Not one thug in Chicago worried about Trump "winning" as a result of their thuggishness, nor, from their point of view, should they.; 3/16/16, 7:47 AM
Big Mike said...: As I wrote yesterday, absent Friday night's hooliganism by Students Wildly Indignant about Nearly Everything (SWINE), Cruz at least pulls out Missouri and maybe wins North Carolina. That's partly because what Cruz said after the disrupted rally, but mostly because the lefties don't get how unbelievably angry people are at them.

Any of you commenters up for assisted suicide? Go to Appalachia and loudly announce that you support Barack Obama's War on Coal. There's some UMW people -- and their wives! -- who'll be glad to assist you. ARM? Amanda?; 3/16/16, 7:47 AM
M Jordan said...: " by Students Wildly Indignant about Nearly Everything (SWINE)"

Nice.; 3/16/16, 7:57 AM
Chest Rockwell said...: I was listening to NPR this morning and they interviewed a hispanic who was thinking about voting for Trump. The reporter asked about Trump's negatives and he said something to the effect of 'Well, he says he's going to deport a lot of people. I don't know about that.".

Right on cue, the NPR reporter interpreted that as the man being 'turned off by Trump's repellent behavior.' Don't know how he made that leap. Oh yeah, it's NPR! And they're fundraising.

My 8 year old regularly asks about Donald Trump. Calls him Donald Trumpet. He claims he's racist. I ask him what does racist mean. ' It means you don't like black people'. Lol, ok kid!; 3/16/16, 8:16 AM
rehajm said...: This comment has been removed by the author.; 3/16/16, 8:16 AM
rehajm said...: Kasich would need 116.4% of the remaining delegates to secure the nomination before the convention. Cruz needs 88%, Trump 57.7%.

Be generous and grant Trump all the remaining 217 delegates from the remaining winner take all states and he would still need to secure 45% of the remaining delegates from the proportional/trigger states.

Trump's vote percentages from last night: 45.8%, 35.7%, 40.2%, 38.8%, 40.8%.; 3/16/16, 8:19 AM
Brando said...: "My 8 year old regularly asks about Donald Trump. Calls him Donald Trumpet. He claims he's racist. I ask him what does racist mean. ' It means you don't like black people'. Lol, ok kid!"

Somehow I got a laugh out of a parent saying "lol, ok kid!" to their 8 year old. I don't know why.

"Be generous and grant Trump all the remaining 217 delegates from the remaining winner take all states and he would still need to secure 45% of the remaining delegates from the proportional/trigger states."

I'd put it about 50/50 that he can get a majority of delegates in time for the convention. If he does not, I predict that Cruz will cut a deal with him "for the good of party unity" and ask for the VP slot in return. I don't think he'd settle for AG or a Supreme Court nomination, in part because VP puts him on track for the presidency (Cruz is pretty young) but mostly because those two slots require Senate confirmation which is by no means assured both because he'd be Trump's pick and because Cruz isn't popular in that chamber even among Republicans.; 3/16/16, 8:23 AM
Sydney said...: I think it is time for me to bury my head in the sand and ignore all this crap. We are doomed as a nation. Nowhere to move that is any better as far as I can tell and I have children and other family here. Best to just concentrate on my own little corner of the world and try to live life to the best and fullest.; 3/16/16, 8:28 AM
Clayton Hennesey said...: John Kasich has now become the third party protest movement we've been hearing about.

But this is hardly about the Presidency. This is now about promoting and solidifying Kasich even further within the Ohio state Republican machine while using presidential race contributions to do it.; 3/16/16, 8:30 AM
Brando said...: "I think it is time for me to bury my head in the sand and ignore all this crap. We are doomed as a nation. Nowhere to move that is any better as far as I can tell and I have children and other family here. Best to just concentrate on my own little corner of the world and try to live life to the best and fullest."

As someone disgusted by the prospect of either Trump or Hillary becoming president (and it is clear it will be one of them), here's my consolation--this country has enough checks and balances and gridlock to ensure they can only do so much damage.

I'm not moving away at least until retirement, and that'd be more for climate or cost reasons than having a lousy president. Life goes on--we'll just see entitlements get worse, the economy continue to putter along, and the usual sound and fury from a new gang in charge. And maybe a smallish war overseas that accomplishes nothing.; 3/16/16, 8:36 AM
Sydney said...: As someone disgusted by the prospect of either Trump or Hillary becoming president (and it is clear it will be one of them), here's my consolation--this country has enough checks and balances and gridlock to ensure they can only do so much damage.

The last eight years has proven to me that our checks and balances no longer work. I never thought I would see the day when our government would compel its citizens to purchase a private product like health insurance, for example. But here we are. Sliding further down that slippery slope.; 3/16/16, 8:45 AM
Brando said...: "The last eight years has proven to me that our checks and balances no longer work. I never thought I would see the day when our government would compel its citizens to purchase a private product like health insurance, for example. But here we are. Sliding further down that slippery slope."

To some extent--the imperial presidency has grown since FDR. But this would be far worse with a compliant Congress and courts, even as those insitutions are weakening or becoming complicit.; 3/16/16, 9:00 AM
Gusty Winds said...: The GOP Establishment will not only back Trump soon, but get down on its knees.

1) Ted Cruz loses in the General Election to Hillary, guaranteed. He's not much of an alternative option for them. Kasich can only steal the nomination and then the party splits.
2) If Trump loses to Hillary, Trump is one and done, and they keep the Trump voters in the party.
3) If Trump wins, it will more than likely be because of cross-over votes and turnout so the GOP would keep the Senate and the House.
4) If Trump wins they can challenge him again in the 2020 primaries.
4) They would rather negotiate with Trump for a SCOTUS seat than Hillary. Trump will populate the WH and Cabinet positions with many Republicans. Gingrich as Chief of Staff?

The Kasich thing is nice, but he's boring and now we are all primed for a real battle. He takes Soros money.

Americans like a good fight, and Hillary v Trump is setting up like Ali-Frazier.; 3/16/16, 9:03 AM
Nyamujal said...: Why is political correctness such a big issue? As one of my favorite comedians Stewart Lee once said, political correctness is "just an often clumsy negotiation towards a more formally inclusive language". Basically it comes down to not going out of your way to be an asshole. Maybe Trump should read Dale Carnegie if he wants to get anywhere with the majority of the populace, who I suspect aren't like his base : http://townhall.com/tipsheet/katiepavlich/2016/03/15/trump-supporter-leaving-trump-rally-go-back-to-auschwitz-go-back-to-fn-auschwitz-n2133518
http://hotair.com/archives/2016/03/10/protester-gets-sucker-punched-at-trump-rally/
http://www.slate.com/blogs/the_slatest/2016/03/02/a_list_of_violent_incidents_at_donald_trump_rallies_and_events.html; 3/16/16, 9:03 AM
David in another form said...: Is being delusional a mental illness? If so the Governor of Ohio also qualifies.

How about phobic? (I'm referring to JAC not the candidates.) Whose mental state does this diagnosis reveal most clearly?; 3/16/16, 9:04 AM
Chest Rockwell said...: "Why is political correctness such a big issue? "

Because it makes you stupid. It makes you ignorant. And it's pretty fucking boring.; 3/16/16, 9:05 AM
Jason said...: No. Political correctness itself means going out of your way to be an asshole.

Case in point: Seeking out the one florist in the entire state who's not gay and doesn't want to do same sex weddings and suing or fining her into bankruptcy to make an example out of her.; 3/16/16, 9:08 AM
cubanbob said...: The saving grace about Trump is that he is old, very wealthy, has a life outside politics and has no real discernible ideology. If he were to get elected at his age 70, he would be a one term president. I doubt that after four years of a job that really ages a person he at age 74 is going to want another four years of that. What for? He has a young wife, young children, grandchildren and no need of any presidentially derived income. Whatever goals as president he has he will either accomplish them within the first two years of his term or not at all.; 3/16/16, 9:13 AM
Nyamujal said...: @jason, that isn't political correctness. First we need to define political correctness if we're to have a discussion about it. The way Trump uses it when he talks about bombing the families of suspected terrorists as being politically incorrect is stupid.; 3/16/16, 9:13 AM
Darrell said...: Ah, the good old days--couple of weeks ago--when the "experts" were telling us that Cruz was in the cat bird's seat with his Super Tuesday losses.; 3/16/16, 9:32 AM
HoodlumDoodlum said...: This comment has been removed by the author.; 3/16/16, 10:00 AM
amielalune said...: Nyamujal: You are entitled to interpret "political correctness" any way that you want to. The fact that your definition doesn't coincide with the generally accepted one is your problem. (I'm guessing that maybe you come from a culture that doesn't hold free speech in high regard.)

And Trump says that he is being "politically incorrect" when he TALKS about bombing terrorist families, not the bombing itself. He is considered politically incorrect when he dares to mention that some illegals are rapists and murderers; that Islam as a religion hates us; that we should put a hold on Muslim immigration until we can do it correctly. No other politician has ever had the nerve to say such things; but it turns out that many, many Americans agree with all of those statements.

His point (and most of his appeal, to many) is that he's not going to play their game. He will say what he wants to say and people can react as they will. He's not going to be silenced by the left or their useful idiots.; 3/16/16, 10:20 AM
Michael K said...: "If he does not, I predict that Cruz will cut a deal with him "for the good of party unity" and ask for the VP slot in return."

I don't think it will even require Trump losing many states. It makes a lot sense for Cruz to join forces and wait for Trump to decide he doesn't want a second term. Even if they lose, which I don't believe for a second, Cruz would be heir apparent. He could probably make a pretty good deal with Trump if he doesn't wait too long. Put him in charge of USSC nominations and the dismantling of the regulatory state, which is the real drag on the economy.; 3/16/16, 10:25 AM
Michael K said...: "No other politician has ever had the nerve to say such things; but it turns out that many, many Americans agree with all of those statements. "

Yes. I don't like his manner but we are fresh out of politicians with balls.; 3/16/16, 10:26 AM
HoodlumDoodlum said...: He gets to tell his people that the forces of far-left activism and political correctness are trying to silence him

He "gets to tell?" It's an accurate statement. He "gets to" accurately describe the situation. If this is just saying "don't do things that give Trump the ability to accurately tell the truth about something that will make people support him" there's a way to say that without seeming to imply Trump's description is somehow wrong.; 3/16/16, 10:27 AM
traditionalguy said...: Ohio Privilege would be a stupid move turning the GOP into a Third Party run by Kasich.

I don't think Ohio is all that important for electing Trump, if he can get one of the three old GOP states of Pennsylvania, New York and New Jersey to go for him.; 3/16/16, 10:36 AM
Sammy Finkelman said...: Kasich has been delusional about his prospects for some time, but he's managed to win just enough in the right places to maintain his delusions. Unless he's saying this because he feels he has to sday this, the way Rubio kepy on saying he would win Florida. Kasich. if his campaign ramps up, might get a lot of delegates in Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, Oregon, Washington State and maybe Wisconsin to make it difficult for the convention to choose wither Cruz or Trump, unless the two get together and one endosres the other. But he's got to win winner-take-allCalifornia. Maybe he can by running as a liberal on immigration, and having the other two split the anti-amnesty vote, but any projections require careful polling. If Kasich appeasr to be ahead of Cruz, anti-Trump people who are not committed to no amnesty might also vote for him.

There's a high likelihood of a split in the Republican Party. The Democrats or somebody (Is this something that comes from Clinton? Or somebody more indepedent?) practically have the Republican Party checkmated, using the issue of immigration, and it will be very hard to find an escape.; 3/16/16, 10:51 AM
Sammy Finkelman said...: There's another matter to consider:

State Republican parties are not legally bound by any law, to support the nominee chosen at the convention. They could put another person on the ballot as the person to whom the Electors to be elected on November 8 are pledged, and in a number of states, they probably would, if Donald Trump is the nominee, even if this would mean seceding from the national Republican party.

I don't think that many people have thought this far out.; 3/16/16, 10:51 AM
Sammy Finkelman said...: traditionalguy said...3/16/16, 10:36 AM

I don't think Ohio is all that important for electing Trump, if he can get one of the three old GOP states of Pennsylvania, New York and New Jersey to go for him.

People who supoort Trump are brainwashed on two matters:

1) First, that there should be no amnesty, and that border control is VERY important.

And

2) Second, that that is the natural position anyone would have, and that anybody who doesn't think that way is corrupt or self-interested, and maybe doesn't like this country the way it is, and therefore they think that their point of view is more popular than what it is. So they are totally against compromise.

They even have been brainwashed, in some cases, to think that Hispanics who are citizens, or legal immigrants from other places, support that point of view.; 3/16/16, 10:57 AM
Sammy Finkelman said...: I don't think Ohio is all that important for electing Trump, if he can get one of the three old GOP states of Pennsylvania, New York and New Jersey to go for him.

In 1948, Dewey carried New York, New Jersey and Pennsylvani, but lost Ohio, and did not defeat Truman.; 3/16/16, 11:00 AM
Paul said...: "People who supoort Trump are brainwashed on two matters:

1) First, that there should be no amnesty, and that border control is VERY important."

Earth to Sammy. If the borders aren't controlled we are looking at demographic replacement and end to the culture that prizes individualism, free markets, separation of powers, and the precepts of the constitution in general. Say hello to a permanent democrat majority and a further fatal slide into tyranny, entrenched corruption, political correctness enforced by law and incarceration, and the end of America.

Controlling immigration, along with the threat of a massive terrorist attack, are THE two existential threats we face.; 3/16/16, 11:12 AM
YoungHegelian said...: @Sammy,

People who supoort Trump are brainwashed on two matters:

1) First, that there should be no amnesty, and that border control is VERY important.

They even have been brainwashed...to think that Hispanics....support that point of view.

Sam, ol' buddy, are you just not paying attention to the news out of Europe? It ain't just Trumpites who think that border control is very important. Merkel just got her ass handed to her in the state elections over just this issue. You know all that awful shit that Trump talks about doing -- deportations, building walls? Well, our European cousins have done all of the above & worse, with now tens of thousands of immigrants, many of them women & children, stranded in the SE of Europe with no where to go, living in the rough. Does the media mention this in connection with The Donald? Nope.

The truth is there is no way that the Republicans can win on Mexican immigration. The history of Mexico is the poor people wanting some one to look after them, & successive politicians all promising to do so, and betraying their word. They are a natural constituency for a party that seeks to augment the state. If the lot of them get naturalized, they only add to the Democratic horde. The Republican Party is thus in the situation of a hostage whose hostage taker wants the key to the gun chest so that he can hold a 12 gauge to the hostage's head instead of a .22. The Republican's self-interest lies in blocking any & all attempts to naturalize these people, and the fact that they are here illegally gives them the perfect lever to do so.; 3/16/16, 11:17 AM
Jason said...: Nyamjual: @jason, that isn't political correctness

'No true Scotsman,' much?

Of course it's political correctness. Indeed, it's the quintessential example of political correctness-turned-bludgeon of 2015. In fact, it's so politically correct that entire states have adopted that practice as official policy.

You don't get to cherry-pick the more benign elements of your oppressive, neo-fascist, anti-liberal movement and its many, many assaults on individual liberties and exclude its major elements. You might as well point at the inevitable massive shortages in command economies and say "that isn't TWUE socialism." Well, maybe that's a bad example. You leftists do that all the time, every day.; 3/16/16, 11:31 AM
Anonymous said...: Nyamujal: Why is political correctness such a big issue?

I suggest brushing up on your Orwell.

As one of my favorite comedians Stewart Lee once said, political correctness is "just an often clumsy negotiation towards a more formally inclusive language".

Your favorite comedian and a thousand other apparatchiks.

People who want to enforce political correctness are wont to use question-begging word-salad phrases like "clumsy negotiation towards a more formally inclusive language". All it means is "we don't want people talking about stuff in ways we don't want stuff talked about".; 3/16/16, 11:39 AM
Brando said...: "Why is political correctness such a big issue?"

It really depends on how you define it. Even leftists mock "political correctness" when they are referring to something they don't like. Everyone--right and left--agree that basic tact is not a bad thing (if you're just trying to antagonize someone for its own sake, you're probably being a douche) but that excessive hypersensitivity to imagined slights is (if you lose your cool because some college kids are wearing sombreros for a Cinco de Mayo party--and they're not Mexican!--you need to find another windmill to tilt at). The thing is everyone defines "political correctness" as "that annoying crap others do" and they define "tact" as "what I think is reasonable."

A view of college campuses today--or at least what gets a lot of news out of them--is that there's a lot of annoying crap going on. If you use terms like "Check your privilege" and "how cisgender of you" and "rape culture" without a trace of irony, you're probably being a politically correct douche.; 3/16/16, 12:15 PM
Sydney said...: John Kasich has no respect for the democratic process. And now Ohio is living with the consequences. This is the kind of behavior that people are upset about on a national level, too. When we have politicians who ignore the rule of law and refuse to follow procedure, you get angry citizens who feel disenfranchised. We don't need any more politicians who ignore the rule of law.; 3/16/16, 12:26 PM
HoodlumDoodlum said...: Nyamujal said...
Why is political correctness such a big issue? As one of my favorite comedians Stewart Lee once said, political correctness is "just an often clumsy negotiation towards a more formally inclusive language".

Sure, it's just clumsy, no big deal! I mean, when you say the "wrong" word or your words or actions are deliberately misinterpreted and the mob calls for your head--when you're fired, run out of town, protested at your private residence day and night...just a little clumsiness, no real problem. When you're hauled before a commission or judged guilty of a thoughtcrime without even being able to defend yourself--just a little clumsiness, whoops.

Gotta break some eggs to make that PC omelette, you know. If it happens to be your life that's ruined, well, it's just a clumsy path to a better world, comrade, and you were in the way.; 3/16/16, 3:24 PM
HoodlumDoodlum said...: Chest Rockwell said...
"Why is political correctness such a big issue? "

Because it makes you stupid. It makes you ignorant. And it's pretty fucking boring.

Good list, Chest, but you omitted "because it's used as a weapon."; 3/16/16, 3:27 PM
Sammy Finkelman said...: The republican Party may be evenly divided.

Donald Trump has won 37 percent of the votes cast so far in repoublican primaries.

And 37 percent of Republican voters yesterday said they would “seriously consider” voting for a third party or other candidate if Trump is the nominee.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-fix/wp/2016/03/15/exit-polls-suggest-plenty-of-appetite-for-a-third-party-alternative-to-donald-trump; 3/16/16, 3:35 PM
John Henry said...: Blogger Brando said...

I don't think he'd settle for AG or a Supreme Court nomination, in part because VP puts him on track for the presidency (Cruz is pretty young)

Good Lord, Brando. You are usually pretty sane.

How about explain to use how the Vice Presidency puts Cruz, or anyone in the past 100 years or the forseeable future, "on track for the presidency."

Theoretical, practical, historical or any other hypothesis you want to use. I am longing to hear it.

Amanda, feel free to chime in on this if you like.

John Henry; 3/16/16, 10:09 PM
Brando said...: "How about explain to use how the Vice Presidency puts Cruz, or anyone in the past 100 years or the forseeable future, "on track for the presidency.""

Fair point--as the VP slot is a sort of "beta male" position (to borrow from another thread's theme) it is difficult for a sitting VP to get elected president as the role of second banana makes it hard to look like a leader. Since the 1830s only George Bush Sr was able to do that successfully.

However, many are considered favorites for the nomination (at least since the 1950s) and Nixon, Humphrey, Bush and Gore won their party's nominations, and VP also-ran Mondale got his party's nod. Then consider Ford, LBJ, Coolidge and Truman got elevated due to death or resignation, and while Biden, Lieberman, Edwards and Quayle didn't win their nominations, being VP or VP candidate gave them national profiles. Being a VP candidate may have its downsides, and certainly doesn't ensure becoming president, but it's a better perch in the modern media era than it used to be.

Plus, consider Cruz's alternatives--Cabinet posts and Supreme Court vacancies require Senate confirmation and staying in the Senate doesn't seem to be his thing. I could see him wanting the VP slot.; 3/17/16, 6:50 AM