The campaign ads write themselves

[Bob78164]

As you may know, Donald Trump has encouraged violence against protesters at his campaign rallies. In addition to saying he'd like to punch one, he's offered to pay the legal fees of supporters who use violence to prevent protest.

Apparently, he meant it. At a North Carolina rally, a supporter sucker-punched a peaceful protester and was arrested. On Meet the Press today, Trump confirmed that he is having his people look into paying the self-appointed brown-shirt's legal fees.

This conduct is a direct assault on the foundations of American democracy. The very point of our political and legal systems is to reach resolution of divisive and contentious issues without resorting to physical force. Even people who think that elections don't make a difference should understand that if Trump wins the nomination, this election does matter.

If my party ever nominated a candidate who endorsed such conduct, I'd vote for the Republican. Not a third-party candidate, I'd even vote for a Republican whose views and/or personality I find as odious as those of Ted Cruz, Rick Santorum, or Mike Huckabee. I hope that if Trump is nominated, those who under any other circumstances would never consider voting for Secretary Clinton or for a self-professed socialist will trust that the system is capable of surviving four or eight years of wrongheaded policies much better than four or eight years of a President who condones and even encourages physical violence against his political opponents.

We've already had one Nixon in my lifetime. We don't need another. --Bob

[TheCalvinator24]

I am #NeverTrump, but I can't vote for either Clinton or Sanders.

[Spock]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PQdPyaDGVac

"We are going to kill a lot of coal miner's jobs and put a lot of coal companies out of business." HRC-very recently

And between the lines-oil and gas job as well.

But she farts out the -Renewable jobs will replace them. Unfortunately, those jobs mainly exist in liberal fantasy world. Solyndra anyone?

[Bob78164]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PQdPyaDGVac

"We are going to kill a lot of coal miner's jobs and put a lot of coal companies out of business." HRC-very recently

And between the lines-oil and gas job as well.

But she farts out the -Renewable jobs will replace them. Unfortunately, those jobs mainly exist in liberal fantasy world. Solyndra anyone?

Secretary Clinton has never suggested or endorsed physical violence against her political opponents. Nor has Senator Sanders, nor any of the other Republican candidates. Donald Trump has. On camera. And then he lied about it.

And if you check the figures, I think you'll find that there are a lot of jobs now in renewable energy, and that the number is growing. In contrast, I think I just read that Alaska (or was it Texas?) is looking at large cuts in its education budget because oil revenues have plummeted. That's happening because we're reaching the point where renewable energy is becoming economically competitive with fossil fuels. --Bob

[SpacemanSpiff]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PQdPyaDGVac

"We are going to kill a lot of coal miner's jobs and put a lot of coal companies out of business." HRC-very recently

And between the lines-oil and gas job as well.

But she farts out the -Renewable jobs will replace them. Unfortunately, those jobs mainly exist in liberal fantasy world. Solyndra anyone?

Secretary Clinton has never suggested or endorsed physical violence against her political opponents. Nor has Senator Sanders, nor any of the other Republican candidates. Donald Trump has. On camera. And then he lied about it.

And if you check the figures, I think you'll find that there are a lot of jobs now in renewable energy, and that the number is growing. In contrast, I think I just read that Alaska (or was it Texas?) is looking at large cuts in its education budget because oil revenues have plummeted. That's happening because we're reaching the point where renewable energy is becoming economically competitive with fossil fuels. --Bob

I might debate the renewable energy part (more like economic forces driving the price of crude down and thus tax revenues as well, but that's my opinion), but you can definitely add Louisiana to that list as well.

[TheCalvinator24]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PQdPyaDGVac

"We are going to kill a lot of coal miner's jobs and put a lot of coal companies out of business." HRC-very recently

And between the lines-oil and gas job as well.

But she farts out the -Renewable jobs will replace them. Unfortunately, those jobs mainly exist in liberal fantasy world. Solyndra anyone?

Secretary Clinton has never suggested or endorsed physical violence against her political opponents. Nor has Senator Sanders, nor any of the other Republican candidates. Donald Trump has. On camera. And then he lied about it.

And if you check the figures, I think you'll find that there are a lot of jobs now in renewable energy, and that the number is growing. In contrast, I think I just read that Alaska (or was it Texas?) is looking at large cuts in its education budget because oil revenues have plummeted. That's happening because we're reaching the point where renewable energy is becoming economically competitive with fossil fuels. --Bob

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!

That's happening because international actors have manipulated the oil market to keep prices low to try to put a stop to US exploration.

Renewable energy isn't even close to being economically competitive.

[Bob78164]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PQdPyaDGVac

"We are going to kill a lot of coal miner's jobs and put a lot of coal companies out of business." HRC-very recently

And between the lines-oil and gas job as well.

But she farts out the -Renewable jobs will replace them. Unfortunately, those jobs mainly exist in liberal fantasy world. Solyndra anyone?

Secretary Clinton has never suggested or endorsed physical violence against her political opponents. Nor has Senator Sanders, nor any of the other Republican candidates. Donald Trump has. On camera. And then he lied about it.

And if you check the figures, I think you'll find that there are a lot of jobs now in renewable energy, and that the number is growing. In contrast, I think I just read that Alaska (or was it Texas?) is looking at large cuts in its education budget because oil revenues have plummeted. That's happening because we're reaching the point where renewable energy is becoming economically competitive with fossil fuels. --Bob

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!

That's happening because international actors have manipulated the oil market to keep prices low to try to put a stop to US exploration.

Renewable energy isn't even close to being economically competitive.

The evidence contradicts your unsupported statement. An awful lot of people are saving money here in California by letting companies put solar panels on their roof for free. The companies make money by selling power to the homeowners at prices comfortably below what the utilities are charging. I'd do it myself except (a) my roof's too steep, and (b) I understand that the City of Los Angeles has some pretty onerous regulations.

And by the way, hasn't it been illegal until quite recently to export U.S. oil? So how could the international market affect U.S. prices? --Bob

[jarnon]

And by the way, hasn't it been illegal until quite recently to export U.S. oil? So how could the international market affect U.S. prices? --Bob

1) It's always been legal to import oil.
2) Crude oil couldn't be exported, but refined oil products could. That's important in my area that has lots of refineries.
3) I don't need to tell you that the world economy is so interconnected these days that everything affects everything else.

[TheCalvinator24]

And by the way, hasn't it been illegal until quite recently to export U.S. oil? So how could the international market affect U.S. prices? --Bob

3) I don't need to tell you that the world economy is so interconnected these days that everything affects everything else.

Apparently, you do need to tell him.

[SportsFan68]

I am #NeverTrump, but I can't vote for either Clinton or Sanders.

If you lived in Colorado, you could vote for Gary Johnson, Libertarian! Wyoming too, probably -- I dunno.

[TheCalvinator24]

I am #NeverTrump, but I can't vote for either Clinton or Sanders.

If you lived in Colorado, you could vote for Gary Johnson, Libertarian! Wyoming too, probably -- I dunno.

Won't vote for Johnson either. I am hoping Austin Petersen gets the Libertarian nomination.

If Trump gets the nomination, I will vote for the Constitution Party candidate.

[silverscreenselect]

If Trump gets the nomination, I will vote for the Constitution Party candidate.

Odd that a party calls itself the "Constitution Party" but doesn't believe in the Constitution.

From their "Seven Principles"

One husband and one wife with their children, as divinely instituted.

I'm not sure how that squares with the First Amendment.

And their own beliefs don't square with the Seven Principles either.

Life for all human beings: from conception to natural death.

From their 2012 platform:

We favor the right of states and localities to execute criminals convicted of capital crimes

So, a more accurate description would be the "Parts of the Constitution We Agree With Party" and their Seven Principles are the "Seven Things We Agree With When They're Convenient."

[Bob78164]

I have read that there are plans to get a mainstream Republican such as Rick Perry on the ballot as the nominee of the Libertarian Party. --Bob

[K.P.]

I have read that there are plans to get a mainstream Republican such as Rick Perry on the ballot as the nominee of the Libertarian Party. --Bob

I read that if a moderate Republican runs as a third party candidate, it's believed they could win just enough states to pull both Clinton and Trump below 270, throwing the election to Congress, and House Speaker Paul Ryan. President Romney anybody?

http://m.huffpost.com/us/entry/doomsday ... 74788.html

[themanintheseersuckersuit]

http://www.usatoday.com/story/opinion/2 ... /82047484/

[Bob78164]

I have read that there are plans to get a mainstream Republican such as Rick Perry on the ballot as the nominee of the Libertarian Party. --Bob

I read that if a moderate Republican runs as a third party candidate, it's believed they could win just enough states to pull both Clinton and Trump below 270, throwing the election to Congress, and House Speaker Paul Ryan. President Romney anybody?

http://m.huffpost.com/us/entry/doomsday ... 74788.html

Not how it works. The House has to choose from among the three highest finishers in the electoral vote count. Each state delegation gets one vote (with 26 necessary to win), which probably means the non-Trump Republican wins.

Of course, it'll be fascinating to hear how McConnell explains that the people chose the third-place finisher to select Supreme Court Justices. --Bob

[K.P.]

I have read that there are plans to get a mainstream Republican such as Rick Perry on the ballot as the nominee of the Libertarian Party. --Bob

I read that if a moderate Republican runs as a third party candidate, it's believed they could win just enough states to pull both Clinton and Trump below 270, throwing the election to Congress, and House Speaker Paul Ryan. President Romney anybody?

http://m.huffpost.com/us/entry/doomsday ... 74788.html

Not how it works. The House has to choose from among the three highest finishers in the electoral vote count. Each state delegation gets one vote (with 26 necessary to win), which probably means the non-Trump Republican wins.

And the non-Trump Republican mentioned in the article was Mitt Romney. But I guess you're saying that Paul Ryan has nothing to do with it?

[Bob78164]

Trump's campaign manager, Corey Lewandowski, has been arrested for misdemeanor battery upon Melissa Fields, then a Breitbart reporter. Ms. Fields resigned from Breitbart shortly after the incident, stating that her organization was not supporting her in the wake of the alleged assault.

Lewandowski claimed he never touched Ms. Fields. Ms. Fields released photographs showing finger-shaped bruises on her arm. Surveillance video contradicts Mr. Lewandowski's claim that he didn't touch her.

No word on whether Trump will pay for Lewandowski's defense. --Bob

[silverscreenselect]

Trump's campaign manager, Corey Lewandowski, has been arrested for misdemeanor battery upon Melissa Fields, then a Breitbart reporter. Ms. Fields resigned from Breitbart shortly after the incident, stating that her organization was not supporting her in the wake of the alleged assault.

Lewandowski claimed he never touched Ms. Fields. Ms. Fields released photographs showing finger-shaped bruises on her arm. Surveillance video contradicts Mr. Lewandowski's claim that he didn't touch her.

No word on whether Trump will pay for Lewandowski's defense. --Bob

If the election goes the right way, there could be a presidential pardon in the offing.

[Bob78164]

Trump's campaign manager, Corey Lewandowski, has been arrested for misdemeanor battery upon Melissa Fields, then a Breitbart reporter. Ms. Fields resigned from Breitbart shortly after the incident, stating that her organization was not supporting her in the wake of the alleged assault.

Lewandowski claimed he never touched Ms. Fields. Ms. Fields released photographs showing finger-shaped bruises on her arm. Surveillance video contradicts Mr. Lewandowski's claim that he didn't touch her.

No word on whether Trump will pay for Lewandowski's defense. --Bob

If the election goes the right way, there could be a presidential pardon in the offing.

But no. Presidents can only pardon federal offenses. Lewandowski is being charged under state law. --Bob

[jarnon]

Raw material for a Sanders ad:

It's 'Possible' Hillary Clinton Could Be Better President than GOP Pick, Charles Koch Says

[Bob78164]

Trump's campaign manager, Corey Lewandowski, has been arrested for misdemeanor battery upon Melissa Fields, then a Breitbart reporter. Ms. Fields resigned from Breitbart shortly after the incident, stating that her organization was not supporting her in the wake of the alleged assault.

Lewandowski claimed he never touched Ms. Fields. Ms. Fields released photographs showing finger-shaped bruises on her arm. Surveillance video contradicts Mr. Lewandowski's claim that he didn't touch her.

No word on whether Trump will pay for Lewandowski's defense. --Bob

If the election goes the right way, there could be a presidential pardon in the offing.

But no. Presidents can only pardon federal offenses. Lewandowski is being charged under state law. --Bob

And they're not pursuing the case after all. --Bob

[BackInTex]

And by the way, hasn't it been illegal until quite recently to export U.S. oil? So how could the international market affect U.S. prices? --Bob

Are YOU SERIOUS? smh

[silverscreenselect]

Cruz and Kasich team up in last ditch effort to stop Trump:

http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/poli ... /83484160/

They both smell a giant 0-fer tomorrow.

Right about now Ben Carson is probably kicking himself for getting out of the race.

[Estonut]

Right about now Ben Carson is probably kicking himself for getting out of the race.

He didn't get out. He only suspended his campaign.