Religious Nutjob Ted Cruz "Called & Anointed" By God To Be The Next President

The corporate right fires up the religious right against gay marriage and abortion and uses their votes to push their deregulation and tax cuts for the rich. It's an old trick. The House of Saud has the same arrangement with the Mullahs in Saudi Arabia ~ Adam McKay (dob 4/17/1968) a film director and screenwriter who has a creative partnership with actor Will Ferrell.

One of the most frightening things about the candidacy of the Canadian-born Ted Cruz is a what a Rightwing religious nut he is. Ted's father Rafael Bienvenido Cruz believes that his son was chosen by the Almighty to be our next president. Rightwing Watch notes that "earlier this year, Ted Cruz's father and primary presidential campaign surrogate... spoke at televangelist Kenneth Copeland's church in Texas".

Kenneth Copeland is a televangelist who preaches the prosperity gospel, which is a twisting a scripture under which good (Republican) Christians are rewarded by God with riches. Ignore that BS about what Jesus said about how hard it is for a rich man to get into Heaven. These prosperity gospel hucksters insist that God wants you to be rich. Fact is, you can tell that a person is right with God if he is wealthy (wealth being a blessing from above).

And according to Copeland and Rafael Bienvenido Cruz, Rafael Edward Cruz (AKA "Ted" Cruz) has been selected to be our next ruler (text below is a transcription from the video record of what took place at Copeland's TX church).

Rafael Bienvenido Cruz: The word from the Lord was "seek my face, not my hand". It was if the cloud of the Holy spirit descended upon the room. And all of a sudden, we were all worshipping. And the words that came out of Ted's mouth were "here am I Lord, use me. Let your will be done". I believe that the Lord has raised him up for such a time as this. (see video below).

There was a similar Mormon prophecy that some of Mittens' followers thought he was the one to fulfill. The White Horse Prophecy says that "the United States Constitution will one day hang like a thread and will be saved by the efforts of the White Horse". Some believe "Mormons expect the United States to eventually become a theocracy dominated by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints". And some believed that Mittens was that "White Horse", although Mittens himself said it wasn't "official church doctrine" and that he didn't "put that at the heart of my religious belief".

But Ted Cruz apparently DOES believe he is anointed by God to bring theocracy to the United States. Unless his father is lying about what he thinks God told Ted. But Ted was there (at Copeland's church) where he spoke for an hour. It might be possible that Ted is just going with his father's delusions (that have him believing the cloud of the Holy Spirit descended and spoke to his son)? Perhaps Ted decided he could use his father's delusions to dupe religious nutjobs into voting for him?

Anyway, if Rafael Edward Cruz were somehow elected president, I'd suspect fraud. And, if President Cruz attempted to steer our nation toward theocracy (I have no idea HOW he'd accomplish this, but let's say, for the sake of argument that he found a way) I'd suspect he was the AntiChrist. I say this seriously, as someone who identifies as Christian.

But I doubt any of this will come to pass. It's far more likely, IMO, that Ted Cruz won't be the nominee, let alone elected president (and then attempt to be a theocrat). And it's far more likely that Ted and his father are total nutjobs. Or liars who think they can take advantage of Rightwing "Christians" who think Ted is "the chosen one".

Video: Televangelist Kenneth Copeland (introducing Rafael Bienvenido Cruz) says, "I believe, with all my heart, that his son is called and anointed to be the next president of the United States".

SWTD #332

Joe Scarborough Speaks Unspeakable Truth Re Fact That Republican Policies Benefit The Wealthy & Hurt Everyone Else

Kemp-Roth [Reagan's 1981 tax cut] was always a Trojan horse to bring down the top rate ~ David Stockman (dob 11/10/1946) former Director of the Office of Management and Budget (1981–1985) under preznit Ronny Raygun.

The following soundbite via the 3/6/2016 airing of the Thom Hartmann Program.

Morning Joe: The problem with the Republican Party over the past 30 years is they haven't (I'll say we haven't) developed a message that appeals to the working class economically in the way that Donald Trump has. We talk about cutting capital gains taxes - the 10k people who are in the crowd cheering for Trump - they're never going to get a capital gains cut, because it doesn't apply. We talk about getting rid of the death tax [estate tax]. The death tax isn't going to impact these people. We talk about how great free trade deals are? Those free trade deals never trickle down to those 10k people. Herein lies the problem with the Republican Party. It never trickles down. Those 10k in Trump's crowd, those are the people who lost jobs when they were moved to Mexico. The Republican donor class were the ones that got rich off it because their capital moved overseas and they made higher profits.

And the American people are finally figuring that out... according to Thom Hartmann. I'm not 100 percent sure of this. I think this realization explains why Bernie Sanders is doing so well. Yeah, it looks like Hillary will be the nominee, but the fact that a democratic socialist Jew is actually making a good showing against the establishment's choice? I think that says a LOT regarding the voters FINALLY waking up to the fact that Republican policies favor the wealthy and that the economic system that works so well in Europe (and worked so well under FDR) is something we should be doing more of (The 12 best reasons to be a democratic socialist).

That free trade benefits the "Republican donor class" is why Hillary Clinton was forced to backtrack on the TPP. Previously she referred to it as the "gold standard" and now she is saying she doesn't support it (45 times Secretary Clinton pushed the trade bill she now opposes).

Yet, Trump says he's a "free trader", he'd just negotiate better deals. But he is not for ANY of the other pro-rich policies that never "trickle down" to the non-wealthy. Trump is proposing MASSIVE tax cuts for the wealthy with a 15% max tax rate, no "death tax" and no corporate tax (Donald Trump's Tax Plan Would Make the Rich Richer, Uncle Sam Poorer).

Clearly the Trumpeteers are NOT figuring it out. And (imo) Hillary voters aren't figuring it out either. She's moved to the Left, but she's been pushed there by Sanders (and likely not stay there after elected). Hillary is not a Progressive, but a moderate. In her own words! (HRC 9/10/2015: "You know, I get accused of being kind of moderate and center. I plead guilty").

If people actually were figuring it out Donald Trump wouldn't be poised to claim the nomination on the Republican side and Hillary Clinton wouldn't be winning on the Democratic side. And primary voting turnout wouldn't be "massive" on the Republican side, it would be MASSIVE on the Democratic side (Here's Just How Massive Republicans' Super Tuesday Turnout Was).

And the massive turnout would be for Bernie Sanders. He's a once in a lifetime candidate, IMO. The country NEEDS Bernie Sanders. Hillary might be OK and push some incremental change. Trump (or any other of the Republicans) would further harm our nation (Bernie Sanders Is a Once in a Lifetime Presidential Candidate. The Time Is Now).

Under a Sanders' presidency income and jobs would soar. This is according to Gerald Friedman, a University of Massachusetts Amherst economics professor. His analysis shows that, under Sanders, "median income would soar by more than $22k, nearly 26 million jobs would be created and the unemployment rate would fall to 3.8%".

BTW, that tool Chuck Todd says (when Scarborough is speaking) "you sound like Bernie Sanders". Clearly upChuck was taken off guard by Scarborough's honesty. Honesty Thom Hartmann found astounding. Yeah, me too.

Video: Joe Scarborough gives up the game: After 30 years, the GOP base realized "it never trickles down" by David Edwards. RawStory 3/8/2016 (6:55, 1:25-2:30 for Scarborough comments).

SWTD #331

Donald Trump Just Telling The Rubes What They Want To Hear

When he called Trump a charlatan and a fraud yesterday I thought that was an endorsement ~ David Feldman; Emmy award winning comedy writer and standup comedian calling in to the 3/4/2016 airing of the Stephanie Miller Show. A reference to a 3/3/2016 Mittens R-Money speech at the University of Utah in Salt Lake City.

Is Donald Trump just telling his supporters what they want to hear? In other words, is he lying about all the next-to-impossible promises he's making? All the other candidates on the stage at the 11th gop debate - Cruz, Rubio and Kasich - said they think he is.

In remarks made later in the debate (transcribed below), Cruz refered to a Trump "off the record" conversation that Donald had with the NYT that was apparently recorded. (The conversation with the editorial board wasn't an interview, but only to help the board decide who to endorse. Note that prior to the Cruz remarks Megyn Kelly asked Trump if he was willing to ask the NYT to release the tapes, and he said no).

Ted Cruz: Marco's dad started as a bartender. My dad started washing dishes. You know how many Americans wanted those jobs? [working in Trump's FL hotel]? Roughly 300 applied. Donald hired 17. That's why this New York Times tape is so troubling. What's been reported is that Donald told the editorial board of the New York Times, "what I'm saying on immigration, I don't believe. I'm not going to build a wall. I'm not going to deport people. This is all just rhetoric for the voters". Now, if he didn't say that, he has an easy solution. Simply release the tape. (3/3/2016 at the Fox Theatre in downtown Detroit MI).

Cruz's info is coming from a 2/29/2016 BuzzFeed article titled "Donald Trump Secretly Told The New York Times What He Really Thinks About Immigration. In this article it is mentioned that one NYT columnist who attended the meeting, wrote the following...

Gail Collins: The most optimistic analysis of Trump as a presidential candidate is that he just doesn't believe in positions, except the ones you adopt for strategic purposes when you're making a deal.

The Opinion Page editor, Andrew Rosenthal, however, says "the Times is not covering up any information related to the presidential campaign that would be crucial to the public's knowledge".

Yeah, I don't know about that. Not that I think Trump would say "yeah, I'm lying" to anyone. But I do think he's only telling the rubes (his "Trumpeteers") what they want to hear. I think that is QUITE obvious. And there is the fact that Cruz asked again (after the remarks I excerpted above), for Donald to release those tapes, and Donald (referring to Cruz as "lying Ted") again said NO.

So maybe he did tell the NYT he's a huge liar. Not in those words, of course. What he might have said was likely (if he said anything of the sort) that he would "negotiate". Although Marco Rubio, in response to Trump insisting he was "flexible", said "there is a difference between flexibility, and telling telling people whatever you think you need to say to get them to do what you want them to do", afterwhich Kasich inserted "that's right".

Which is what he did with his "Trump University" scam, as Rubio also noted (Yes, Trump University Was a Massive Scam). Now he's attempting to scam the American people into voting for him. An observation of Marco's that I *do* agree with. Not that I agree with him (or any of the other Republican candidates) about anything else (except for Kasich taking the Medicaid expansion).

SWTD #330

On Jeb Bush Dropping Out Of The 2016 potus Race (The Brother Of The War Criminal Who Failed To Keep Us Safe)

I congratulate my competitors that are remaining on the island ~ Jeb! remarks upon the "suspension" of his bid for the White House, 2/20/2016.

On 4/25/2013 Barbara Bush said "we've had enough Bushes". This was in regards to her other son John Ellis (AKA Jeb!) possibly running for the presidency. When Jeb decided he would run, Babs sent an email to prospective supporters asking for money (3/18/2015) that revised that past statement.

Instead of an emphatic NO (which is how I'd describe the "we've had enough Bushes") she says she was "hesitant". What made her change her mind was the "fact" that "our problems are so profound that America needs a leader who can renew the promise of this great nation". IMO the leader who can do that is Bernie Sanders. But, whether it's Bernie or Hillary on the Democratic side, it is now certain that the Republican the Democrat faces off against will NOT be Jeb.

Although, according to Late Late Show host James Cordon "George W bush was a little confused why Jeb quit because he was losing - because as far as George W bush is concerned, you still become president even when you don't get the most votes"... to which I say, good one. Ha ha. Al Gore was elected to the presidency by winning the most votes, but the Supreme Court stole his victory by anointing a man who would go on to ignore the warnings concerning an eminent terrorist attack (Bin Ladin Determined To Strike in US) then go on to start two illegal wars (Afghanistan: The Other Illegal War).

Regarding the "please clap" moment (see video below) Host of the Late Show, Stephen Colbert, remarked (on the 2/22/2016 airing of his program) that Jeb should have said "please vote for me". Actually, I think that if you watch the video it's clear that Jeb ended his speech abruptly and the audience simply did not know he was done. They might have clapped if they had.

Still, even if the media misrepresented this moment (the author of the Colbert article writes that Jeb "received no applause after a speech on national security") and mercilessly mocked him for something he didn't deserve to be mocked for, I surely do not care one iota re the "unfairness" of it.

Frankly, I'm thinking that *if* one of the Republicans were to be elected, a president Trump might be the least worst option. Out of those who could conceivably win the nomination, that is. Otherwise I guess I'd go with Kasich, even though he'd still be pretty bad (Myth of the "moderate" John Kasich).

I was in agreement with Bab's initial comment regarding American not needing another bush. Surely the electorate would reject another after the economy crashing war criminality of the last one. It isn't as if Jeb was honest with us instead of spinning a ridiculous and patently false narrative that his doofus brother "kept us safe", Donald Trump told the truth during the last debate about how gwb LIED about WMD.

Even if he's now walked back his "bush lied about WMD" truth-telling, saying, in an AC360 interview "I don't know what he did". Clearly he only confronted Jeb on the lies of his brother to destroy the bush brother's candidacy (SWTD #326). And Jeb dropped out shortly after the debate.

So perhaps the strategy worked? Now he can deny he ever said the bushies lied about WMD and his idiot "Trumpeteers" will go along with the Donald's revisionism. Because they're so gaga over his xenophobia and jingoism they really don't care if he lies to them. Apparently they don't realize that he might be lying about the wall, deporting illegals, the Muslim registry, banning Muslims from entering the country, etc, etc. Because he's promising a bunch of stuff he can't deliver, I think it's clear he's simply telling the rubes what the want to hear (Donald Trump Secretly Told The New York Times What He Really Thinks About Immigration).

Anyway, remember that Jeb did say he would rather lose the primary in order to win the general? Looks like he succeeded with phase 1 of his master plan. I wonder what phase 2 is going to entail? Obviously the end result will be that Jeb is elected president, but how's he going to do it?

Video1: Speaking at the Hanover Inn near the Vermont border on [2/2/2016], Mr. Bush finished a fiery riff about protecting the country - "I won't be out here blow-harding, talking a big game without backing it up", he said — and was met with total silence. "Please clap", he said, sounding defeated. The crowd laughed — and then, finally, clapped. (excerpted from a 2/3/2016 NYT article by Jonathan Martin and Ashley Parker) (0:33).

Video2: Jill Sobule reveals the truth about the Trumpeteers in song - when they say "Make America Great Again", they mean by getting rid of the black and brown people (4:49).

SWTD #329

DNC Chair Debbie Wasserman Schultz Co-Sponsors Legislation To Protect Payday Loan Sharks

He lends at interest and takes a profit. Will such a man live? He will not! Because he has done all these detestable things, he is to be put to death; his blood will be on his own head ~ The Christian Bible, Ezekiel 18:13 (New International Version).

In another in a string of disappointing moves, Chairwoman of the Democratic National Committee and Rep for FL's 23rd district, Debbie Wasserman Schultz, has gotten into bed with the payday lending industry with legislation that she is co-sponsoring (!).

Payday lenders fearing modest federal regulations will cut into their vast profit margins have a new, high-profile ally in Washington: ...Wasserman Schultz (D-FL) is co-sponsoring legislation to delay and permanently muffle pending Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) rules to rein in small-dollar lenders that are currently able to levy triple-digit annual interest rates on the nation's poorest... The bill would force a 2-year delay of the CFPB's rules... the bill... would... permanently block [CFPB rules] in any state that enacts the sort of ineffectual, industry-crafted regulatory sham that FL adopted in 2001. That bill featured "compromise language heavily influenced by industry players", the FL Alliance for Consumer Protection notes. Rather than a model for robust oversight that still allows low-income people to access emergency credit when they need it, the group describes the FL approach as a series of "well-disguised loopholes" that preserve the industry's abusive patterns. (The Official Head Of The Democratic Party Joins GOP Effort To Protect Payday Lenders by Alan Pyke. ThinkProgress 3/1/2016).

I call payday lenders "loan sharks" due to the interest rates they charge. Rates that fit the definition of usury.

Usury is the practice of making unethical or immoral monetary loans that unfairly enrich the lender. ... A loan may be considered usurious because of excessive or abusive interest rates or other factors. ... Someone who practices usury can be called a usurer, but a more common term in contemporary English is loan shark. The term may be used in a moral sense - condemning taking advantage of others' misfortunes - or in a legal sense where interest rates may be regulated by law. Historically, some cultures (e.g., Christianity in much of Medieval Europe, and Islam in many parts of the world today) have regarded charging any interest for loans as sinful. (Wikipedia/Usury).

Yeah, I'd say it's sinful, in that it's morally reprehensible for "some of the worst predatory bastards in America" (according to Charlie Pierce), to be raking in so much profit via sky-high interest rates in regards to loans to those who can least afford this overcharging.

...22% of borrowers end up rolling their loan over seven or more times, loans in such misery cycles account for 62% of the industry's business. Trapping people in lengthy repay cycles is literally the primary source of industry income. About 76% of all FL payday borrowing is rollover loans within two weeks of a previous loan, and 85% of all loans are part of a reborrowing sequence of seven or more straight high-interest loans. The typical borrower there pays 300% annual interest. (excerpt from same ThinkProgress article quoted above).

Add to this the fact that DWS voted to fast track the TPP (The 28 Democrats Who Voted For Fast Track), vigorously opposed a 2014 medical marijuana amendment in FL", and has inappropriately used her position as the DNC chair to tip the scales in favor of Hillary.

...speaking of the debate, why did Wasserman Schultz schedule it for the Saturday night before Christmas, at one of the least-watched times on television, virtually guaranteeing low ratings? ...the DNC under Wasserman Schultz wants to guarantee that as few people as possible actually watch the Democrats' own debates! Hillary's campaign wanted as few debates as possible to prevent her lesser-known opponents from getting free television exposure. DNC limited debates to six, compared to 26 in the 2008 campaign... (Fire Debbie Wasserman Schultz by Miles Mogulescu. Huffpo 12/18/2015).

All proof that it's time for Debbie to go. The Progressive Left (the heart of the Democratic Party) should no longer tolerate an obvious corporate shill as DNC Chair. Heck, I'd say she needs to be primaried and booted out of the House as well. Which she is being, btw. Good luck to her challenger, Tim Canova (Meet Debbie Wasserman Schultz's First-Ever Primary Challenger: Tim Canova).

Image: HRC Campaign surrogate/shill Debbie Wasserman Schultz is inappropriately attempting to use her power as DNC Chair to anoint Hillary the Democratic nominee (5 Times Debbie Wasserman Schultz Violated DNC Rules and Stacked the Deck in Favor of Clinton).

RNUSA: Wasserman Schultz To Go? (12/20/2015).

SWTD #328

CBS CEO Loves Money More Than His Country

We got the bubble-headed-bleach-blonde who comes on at five. She can tell you 'bout the plane crash with a gleam In her eye. It's interesting when people die ~ Don Henley (dob 7/22/1947). Lyric from the song Dirty Laundry from the 1982 album I Can't Stand Still.

In regards to the Trump candidacy, CBS CEO Leslie Moonves said "it may not be good for America, but it's damn good for CBS". This admission of a love of (advertising) money over country is surely not unique to CBS, as it seems as if even msnbc is a (free advertising for) Trump network.

As Progressive radio host Thom Hartmann pointed out on the 3/1/2016 broadcast of his program, it was the (WJC signed) telecommunications act (a deregulatory bill that lead to massive media consolidation) that caused "incredible damage". In that now what we have are "news" organizations where spectacle (drawing eyeballs/generating ad revenue) is more important than informing and educating the public.

"He is an invention of the media" said Hartmann. Trump would not be the frontrunner if all the potus candidates had received the same amount of coverage. But he has received significantly more. Because it's good for ratings and therefore good for Big Media's bottom line.

"I've never seen anything like this, and this going to be a very good year for us. Sorry. It's a terrible thing to say. But, bring it on, Donald. Keep going", said Moonves. "Donald's place in this election is a good thing", he said Monday at the Morgan Stanley Technology, Media & Telecom Conference in San Francisco. "There's a lot of money in the marketplace", the exec said of political advertising so far this presidential season. (Leslie Moonves on Donald Trump: "It May Not Be Good for America, but It's Damn Good for CBS" by Paul Bond. The Hollywood Reporter 2/29/2016).

Sure, I bet he's really "sorry". The infotainment nooz channels have elevated Trump (with all the free air time they've devoted to him), and it's worked out really well for them. Drawing the eyeballs of both the misinformed Fox viewers - angry White racists (like David Duke) who support Trump - and those of us who can't believe that a racist misogynist bigoted blowhard reality TV star could win the GOP nomination. It's like a car accident that backs up traffic because every car passing by has to slow down to take a gander.

"If we had not changed the rules on media ownership back in 1996, I don't think Donald Trump would be where he is right now" Hartmann said at the close of this segment. A statement I've got to agree with. Reporting the news did not used to be a for profit venture (SWTD #94). Now that it is, the viewers aren't being informed, they're being entertained.

A predicament that has help Trump enormously. And also boosted Hillary Clinton, I think. IMO (and Thom Hartmann's) Bernie Sanders would be doing better if were being more fairly covered by Big Media (Hillary Clinton Gets 14 Times More Network News Coverage Than Bernie Sanders).

BTW, the Don Henley song, Dirty Laundry, was about how the news media exploits personal tradegy for financial gain. Now they're selling out the entire country... it may not be good for America, but it's damn good for CBS! A new low.

Audio: CBS Chairman Discusses Trump's Candidacy. Audio attached to a 2/19/2016 Intercept article by Lee Fang.

Update, 10/6/2017: According to the brainwashed trumpdupe (and ironically self-styled) FreeThinke, "ninety percent of ALL MEDIA and all ACADEMIA is OWNED and OPERATED by Cultural Marxists". Which would make Moonves (who does not give a damn about anything other than profit and unequivocally SAYS SO) a "Cultural Marxist". Proof FT's claims about "Cultural Marxism" are pure buncombe; an obvious FACT every sane person will acknowledge.

SWTD #327