Quote :

"I totally agree. I think he wants a wall, but you don't have to be too smart to know his comments about Mexico paying for it aren't too serious. "

Quote :

"http://www.fairus.org/publications/the-fiscal-burden-of-illegal-immigration-on-united-states-taxpayers According to this site, the US spends $113 billion each year on illegal immigrants. We can build a Bremer wall for ~$10 billion. If we spend another $100 billion on rounding up the illegals and sending them back, we will have the total cost of this project paid off in the first year. Mexico will then be stuck with paying for the education and social programs of the people they had pawned off on the US, so in effect they will be paying for the wall, over and over again."

jesus

[Edited on March 9, 2016 at 7:07 PM. Reason : link included]

3/9/2016 6:45:14 PM

I clicked on this page first, read that quote, and was hoping it was from somewhere else.

Sadly, it is not.

3/9/2016 6:53:56 PM

My solution to illegal immigration:

1. Business found employing illegals are slapped with a $50,000 fine per undocumented worker.

2. Eliminate automatic citizenship for babies just because they were squirted out on the US side of the border

3. Create a path to citizenship for illegals that are law-abiding productive members of society.

In my 3-step plan we can reduce demand for illegal workers which will dry out motivation for coming here. We recognize that trying to deport everyone is prohibitive and create a way for these folks to become official so they can pay taxes on all the services they currently use for for free.

This can appease both sides of the aisle. Points 1 and 3 appeal to lefties by punishing the businesses that have illegal hiring practices and amnesty. Points 1 and 2 appear to conservatives who want to cut off illegal immigration and hate anchor babies.

[Edited on March 9, 2016 at 7:19 PM. Reason : a]

3/9/2016 7:18:03 PM

Quote :

"According to this site, the US spends $113 billion each year on illegal immigrants. We can build a Bremer wall for ~$10 billion. If we spend another $100 billion on rounding up the illegals and sending them back, we will have the total cost of this project paid off in the first year. Mexico will then be stuck with paying for the education and social programs of the people they had pawned off on the US, so in effect they will be paying for the wall, over and over again."

If that would happen Mexico still wouldn't be paying for the wall. It would be our government building the wall with our tax dollars. Mexico isn't going to hand over billions of dollars and workers to close off the border.

Quote :

"People, despite being a fanatical Ted Cruz supporter, I am rather deep in my thinking and understand what is generally meant by working together. But what do we want a functioning Congress to work together to accomplish?"

Well for example, both parties could have sat down and talked about healthcare reform without forcing something on us that a lot of Americans didn't want. Instead, Obama signed a bill that 100% of democrats voted for and 100% of republicans voted against. They should have sat down and worked together to come up with a better bill. Most Americans with common sense saw a lot of the flaws in the bill before it was even passed, but the democrats wouldn't listen to the people in our country.



[Edited on March 9, 2016 at 7:34 PM. Reason : .]

3/9/2016 7:18:49 PM

Ted Cruz wants to burn it all down, that is his idea of working together

3/9/2016 7:27:52 PM

^And that isn't a good thing. Someone needs to get in there who doesn't have the goal of destroying the other party.

3/9/2016 7:36:01 PM

it's not the other party that Cruz wants to destroy, he wants to destroy the entire federal government

3/9/2016 7:42:45 PM

Quote :

"but the democrats wouldn't listen to the people in our country."

I mean, they didn't just show up in DC unannounced. I realize that may be difficult for you to understand, though.

3/9/2016 7:59:03 PM

^I know they were elected by the people, but that doesn't mean they did a good job. Congress has had a pretty low approval rating for quite a while now no matter who is in charge. A lot of people on both sides wanted health care reform, so the republicans would probably have compromised a little. Instead, the democrats created a POS bill that has done the opposite of what it was intended to do. Right now the majority gets their way in congress and the minority doesn't on some pretty important issues. That has to change. They have to quit just voting across party line when it comes to the really big issues.

[Edited on March 9, 2016 at 8:10 PM. Reason : .]

3/9/2016 8:10:03 PM

Quote :

"Instead, the democrats created a POS bill that has done the opposite of what it was intended to do."

such as....?

3/9/2016 8:17:40 PM

Wasn't it designed to get more uninsured people insured? Seems it did that.

Any other stuff that happened is basically free market capitalism!

3/9/2016 8:19:20 PM

Quote :

"it's not the other party that Cruz wants to destroy, he wants to destroy the entire federal government "

I thought he wants to create Christian Jesus Bible-land.

Quote :

"ow they were elected by the people"

Well a lot of people are idiots as evidenced by Cruz and Trump being the lead GOP candidates...

I don't understand what all the hatred for Obamacare is about? Sure I guess if you are a small
business or contractor paying for your own insurance, your premium has gone up. From a macro-scale
though it seems to be doing more good then bad. I guess people are mad and with the attitude of
"got mine, fuck everyone else".

3/9/2016 8:33:01 PM

^Obamacare screwed the middle class pretty bad. The premiums and deductibles went up A LOT, but Obama promised that our premiums would go down. It''s a terrible bill. Both parties should have sat down and talked about it instead of forcing a crap bill through the house. Hopefully the next president is willing to compromise a little more when it comes to situations like this. And hopefully both parties go along with it.

3/9/2016 8:44:34 PM

This thread is now off topic. Back on topic - our next president, Sen. Cruz, will be on with Megyn Kelly in twelve minutes on Fox News show!!

3/9/2016 8:48:23 PM

^I don't think so. I wouldn't mind, but I don't see anyone beating Clinton.

3/9/2016 8:49:17 PM

This is like a middle school level understanding of how the political system works.

3/9/2016 9:55:49 PM

Yeah fuck this thread at this point.

Goldie, OK. But with the rest of these idiots involved it's not worth anyone's time. Some people need to stick to Chit Chat.

3/9/2016 11:56:51 PM

http://elections.huffingtonpost.com/pollster/donald-trump-favorable-rating

Wow trumps favorability gets even worse.

Seems like this 30% box with their middle school level understanding are capitalizing on a split field. I can't see how this is good for trump in the general though.

It also makes me wonder of its Cruz and Hillary, does this give Cruz an advantage since he'll be seen as more credible because of trump...

3/10/2016 12:17:25 AM

In theory, Trump in the general is a non-starter.

3/10/2016 1:01:46 AM

As wrong as some of the polls have been this cycle, I think you can throw out the usual playbook of analysis going into the general. I've pretty much given up on the idea of unfavorable ratings with Trump given that nothing seems to stick to him.

If you thought people made fun of the GWB/Cheney combo - with Cheney being the "evil genius" behind the Bush presidency, can you imagine the jokes if Trump/Cruz actually happens. Not that any administration involving Sen. Cruz would be anywhere close to a joke.

3/10/2016 7:02:19 AM

Quote :

"My solution to illegal immigration: 1. Business found employing illegals are slapped with a $50,000 fine per undocumented worker. 2. Eliminate automatic citizenship for babies just because they were squirted out on the US side of the border 3. Create a path to citizenship for illegals that are law-abiding productive members of society. "

won't there be far fewer people willing to come forward for citizenship if you're threatening their employer with a 50k fine? i'm assuming their employer would have to act as some sort of reference for them to gain citizenship - proving that they've been paying the employee above minimum wage and offering some kinda character reference. seems like cooperation would be spotty with that. i'd think there would have to be some sort of grace period allowing those employers and employees to begin the process toward citizenship where the employer would not be penalized.

[Edited on March 10, 2016 at 7:27 AM. Reason : v]

3/10/2016 7:26:13 AM

Imposing massive fines for hiring illegals / making it <more> illegal / enforcing the existing laws would probably solve a decent amount of issues. Guess why the republicans will never let that pass...

And I love this whole, "I'm voting for Trump b/c the current people don't compromise and I want to make a point to the GOP" attitude.

3 years ago if you watched any channel other than Fox News the consensus assessment was that the GOP needed to become more inclusive, especially of Latinos, due to changing demographics and shifting public opinion on social issues (both clearly going in the opposite direction of their platforms), and if they didn't, they risked losing the next presidential election, and the next one, etc.

Now here we are with the party having changed absolutely nothing and the people that want to send a message to the GOP are going to nominate Trump, with many admitting that he'll probably lose the election. Have you considered that the message the establishment is going to get when he loses will be, "See, this is what happens when we run a shitty candidate like Trump who doesn't represent all of our core conservative values". You want to send a message to your party for not adapting to the times? Let one of their guys run and then don't vote for him. If Trump runs, they get yet another scapegoat as to why they lost, and you get to deal with the same party BS in 4 more years.

Oh and I also love the idea that the lack of compromise has been a 2-way equal street for the last 8 years. I'd point to all the blocking the GOP has done and the Ted Cruz bs, but really all you need to do is look at Mitch McConnell's comments at the start of Obama's first term.

3/10/2016 9:34:25 AM

I could really see Cruz pulling some straight up shady Frank Underwood shit to do "whatever-it-takes" to get ahead. Including throwing people in front of a moving train.

3/10/2016 10:53:02 AM

Rumor is that tomorrow morning Ben Carson will endorse Donald Trump and Jeb Bush has met with Trump's rivals.

http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2016/03/10/ben-carson-expected-to-endorse-trump-sources-say.html

[Edited on March 10, 2016 at 7:56 PM. Reason : .]

3/10/2016 7:55:01 PM

Fuck you little Marco I'm not retiring at 70

[Edited on March 10, 2016 at 9:26 PM. Reason : .]

3/10/2016 9:23:39 PM

How is anyone still supporting coal... What delusional world do people live in...

3/10/2016 10:21:33 PM

Nothing last night will alter the course of the Donald express. Surprised both Cruz and Rubio backed off on pressing him for details on anything, very effective at showing his lack of substance when you get him talking for more than 60-90 seconds. I thought Cruz did well, Rubio had the look of a defeated man, and Kasich once again reminded everyone he was elected in the 80's.

3/11/2016 7:30:59 AM

^^ have you ever traveled through coal country? i would support coal if i lived there.

3/11/2016 8:22:18 AM

Quote :

"I thought Cruz did well"

YOU DONT SAY?

[Edited on March 11, 2016 at 8:24 AM. Reason : ]

3/11/2016 8:23:29 AM

If this was an initial debate, they all did well. However, since this is a debate with 3 of them struggling to stay alive, only Trump did well.

3/11/2016 8:32:31 AM

Rubio did the best, unfortunately it won't matter

3/11/2016 8:36:21 AM

Rubio's rebuttal to Trump regarding Cuba was masterful.

But like^ said, it wont matter.

3/11/2016 11:39:41 AM

^^^^^
Yeah I get coal country, but the president shouldn't support coal to prop up that industry. The president should help those areas retain or look at other solutions for when technology takes jobs.

Kasich didn't address this directly but seemed to get it.

[Edited on March 11, 2016 at 11:41 AM. Reason : ]

3/11/2016 11:40:32 AM

Some updated polling from NC Civitas on the presidential race (along w/local races and the Bond referendum). Going to be tight between Trump and Cruz it appears.

https://www.nccivitas.org/2016/17366/

3/11/2016 11:49:08 AM

^^ if we had an infrastructure boom we would need coal for steel, so they should push for politicians who want an investment in infrastructure

(i'm bitter that we never had a major federal investment in infrastructure in response to the recession)

3/11/2016 11:57:43 AM

^^ trump will win nc pretty easily imo

3/11/2016 12:00:16 PM

https://twitter.com/JaredWyand/status/708120011039068160
Ted Cruz's pastor calls for execution of gays minutes before introducing him

Not sure if this is Cruz's pastor, or just a pastor affiliated with Cruz though...

3/11/2016 12:10:53 PM

^ Drudge has gone all in today for Trump - multiple front page headlines and youtube links about Cruz and Cruz's father related to religion. The poster here who keeps babbling about Cruz and a theocracy is probably still in their refractory period after watching those youtube vids.

3/11/2016 12:17:14 PM

Quote :

"The poster here who keeps babbling about Cruz"

That's you GoldieO.

3/11/2016 12:57:43 PM

Well this is the Republican primary thread so my endless praise for Sen. Cruz is relevant and also much appreciated based on the huge number of PM's I've received in agreement.

3/11/2016 1:12:50 PM

lol

3/11/2016 1:28:54 PM

lol his PM numbers are youuuuuuge folks!

Is this the kind of stuff you guys are PM'ing each other?

Quote :

"Cruz is crazy and too conservative to be considered electable despite being super smart, handsome"

Quote :

"[Cruz] isn't Santorum or Huck though, he has more money and organization than both had after they won Iowa, plus he's just plain more handsome."

Quote :

"It's like [Rubio] really thought everyone would just forget about his involvement with the 'Gang of 8' because of how much he loves America and because he's so handsome when Sen. Cruz is far more handsome anyways"

Quote :

"Sen. Cruz, of course, will continue to outperform everyone on stage as well as being the best dressed and most handsome."

Quote :

"But he's definitely not as handsome as Bradley Cooper despite what the left leaning media says."

[Edited on March 11, 2016 at 1:57 PM. Reason : V I'll take that as a yes.]

3/11/2016 1:38:02 PM

Good show old boy! I had forgotten about some of those past gems.

3/11/2016 1:56:38 PM

National Review just endorsed Cruz. That isn't a fringe rag, so it could be the start of mainstream consolidation behind one candidate.

3/11/2016 3:24:44 PM

So... should I vote in the GOP primary for Cruz? That's what i'm leaning towards right now, there's some other anti-establishment nutters too that i want to keep out.

3/11/2016 4:31:43 PM

^ After careful consideration, yes!

3/11/2016 4:43:16 PM

Well, if I were a Democrat then Trump would be a good way to disrupt the American conservative (classical liberal) influence. But, I believe his nomination, let alone presidency, would do a great deal of damage to the country and our reputation abroad. It's kind of amusing when somebody with a squirrel rug and orange spray tan makes empty threats and goes on twenty minute rants about his enemies. Were it coming from somebody in charge of the executive branch, not so much. Rubio (neocon that he is) had the best line of the debate ... a president can't just blurt out anything that runs through his mind. Same goes for a finalist.

3/11/2016 5:34:04 PM

NC is close enough that you absolutely should not vote for a republican, you need to vote for Sanders

3/11/2016 6:02:19 PM

Yah I'm trying to figure out moron's logic here. Regardless of the approach, it makes no sense.

3/11/2016 7:00:17 PM

I was thinking to add more votes to non-trump totals to take some steam out of trump, to reduce any chance of him being president. The lower his percentage, the greater the chance of a brokered convention.

3/11/2016 7:04:25 PM