More Muddled Message From Ben Carson

The Ben Carson campaign has been capitalizing on a kerfluffle regarding a CNN report just as the Iowa Caucuses were starting that Carson was suspending his campaign. Other opponents, such as the Cruz and Rubio campaign, trumpeted the information to their grassroots operatives.  A subsequent clarification from the Carson campaign that he was off the campaign trail for a few days to get some R&R as well as fresh clothes, were not passed along to the Caucus precinct captains.

Senator Ted Cruz (R-TX) publicly apologized for not passing along the additional information.  Some have been scandalized by a recorded telephone call (isn't dissemination a felony unless there's two party consent?) that the Cruz campaign pushed a suspended campaign pitch to win over Carson voters.

Dr. Carson has perseverated on this point.  First, he claimed Christianity forced him to accept the apology but then his forgiveness was conditional.  Then his expectation evolved to having heads roll in the Cruz campaign.  Now in day three of this contrived controversy, Dr. Carson went on television to demand:"Don't do what's legal, but what's right". Whatever does that mean in the primary process?

In addition, is this selective outrage?  The Rubio campaign was also trafficking in this report. Why is Cruz the sole focus? Is it animus against Cruz because some of his New Hampshire staff and fund-raisers defected to Cruz?  Is it because both Cruz and Carson are competing for the same sliver of the Republican primary electorate?  Or is it to gang up on the front runner which neither the establishment nor the press likes?

That pious platitude is about as clear as Carson's campaign clarification that he was leaving the campaign trail to get fresh clothes in the heat of a primary that could determine the viability of the Carson campaign.

It is unclear what Carson really wants, other than more publicity and burnishing his personal brand. Perhaps he will answer when he returns to New Hampshire on Saturday afternoon for the Republican Debate.  But if he thinks that this whiny, ambiguous complaints about past contests endears himself to conservatives, he is as mistaken as former Governor Sarah Palin was about her endorsement of Donald Trump for President

Ben Carson Fires 50% of Campaign Staff

Much of the news cycle in the wake of the Iowa Caucuses has been the allegation by GOP presidential hopeful Dr. Ben Carson that his campaign was harmed by an alleged "dirty trick" by the campaign of Senator Ted Cruz (R-TX).

The unforgivable sin was Cruz grassroots operatives sharing CNN reports that Carson was not hustling to campaign in New Hampshire and South Carolina and might have a big announcement in the coming days.  This perception of a fledgling Carson campaign was compounded by a clarifying news release that Dr. Carson was flying home to Florida to get a change of clothes then heading off to Washington DC for the National Prayer Breakfast.

Dr. Carson has generated a bevy of television spots singling out front runner Senator Cruz (while ignoring the same "sins" from the Rubio campaign).  Carson has allowed his self proclaimed "good friend" Donald Trump (the same guy who compared Carson to a child molester) to use the kerfluffle as an excuse to invalidate the Iowa Caucus results and proclaim himself the winner of the Hawkeye Cauci.

Well, the rest of information which Carson spun as a "dirty trick" seems to have been confirmed.  Now Carson confidant Armstrong Williams announced that the Ben Carson campaign is firing 50% of its staff, supposedly to make it lean and mean to go the distance.

Might this move be because Carson SuperPAC and fund-raisers have been abandoning the campaign?  How about the resignation of Carson Campaign Manager Barry Bennett and Communication Director Doug Watts at the end of 2015?  Then there was the news of resignation of top Carson financial aide Dean Parker, who was reportedly pulling $20,000 a month for himself.

Perhaps Carson meeting polling projections of coming into a distant fourth place in the Iowa Caucuses killed his presidential chances?  Maybe Carson was able to give the bad news to his supporters after resting, praying and having a fresh suit. But at least Armstrong Williams will still be at Dr. Carson's side.

Carson has proclaimed with pride that he is not a typical politician. But Carson has done many things which  impeach the serious quality of his campaign.  Some have likened Carson's campaign as a promotion of his brand, since his campaign site links to his book site.  But the whiny nature of Carson's political persona demonstrated in debates and his conditional forgiveness may alienate him from conservatives and serious Christians.

On Chaotic Campaigning and Ceilings

Manhattan Mogul Donald Trump's sober response to coming in second for the 2016 Republican Iowa Caucuses did not last long.  The day after, Trump seized on a sketchy story that the Senator Ted Cruz (R-TX)  campaign "cheated" by passing along media reports of Dr. Ben Carson's retreat from the campaign trail.




But then Trump linked it to the Canadian "birther" attack, which ought to tip off Carson supporters on Trump's sincerity. Later, Trump doubled down on social media to demand that the Iowa Caucuses be held over or Cruz's win nullified. So much for being dignified and concentrating on the future.

The Washington Examiner's Philip Klein offered an analysis on the primary campaign.  Metrics indicate that Mr. Trump has a solid core base of core followers which may number up to 25% of the electorate, as long as their dear leader is winning.  The record setting turnout in the Republican Iowa Caucuses did not help the populist pugilist as conventional wisdom held.  Last minute decision makers decidedly turned away from the Trump train.

In order to win the nomination, a candidate eventually must garner a majority of voters (as well as 1,237 delegates in at least six primary wins) to take the nomination.  Data indicates that Trump has a ceiling of support.  The large lump of core supporters may help him in a crowded field, but it will not take him over the top.

Trump has utilized an unconventional primary strategy, eschewing organization and retail politics for celebrity driven campaign events, earned media from outlandish statements and constantly attacking his opponents with insults and paraliptical innuendo. Now that ballots have been cast, the circus show is no longer easily winning eyeballs.  More importantly, it does not seem to be winning converts.

Rush Limbaugh had a blue collar caller who had previously been in the Trump camp for the political incorrect fighter appeal.  But the Trump supporter had been dissuaded by the renewed attacks on Cruz  by Trump over the Carson kerfluffle.  This support may ring essentially hollow as Trump had insinuated that Dr. Carson had the pathology of a child molester in November 2015).  The caller began to question if Trump is fighting for real reasons or if it is part of his show.

This sort of agonizing re-appraisal from Trump-eteers as well has the apparent hard ceiling of Trump support may not bode well for his candidacy in the future.  This is not to say that Trump should immediately be written off.  Trump's lead in New Hampshire is formidable.  In addition, the large lead that Senator Bernie Sanders has in the Granite State's Democrat primary may allow many cross over votes to a competitive race as well as "reverse Operation Chaos" by Democrats voting for their favored foe to defeat in the November General Election.

Winning a primary contest does not necessarily mean that the spotlight will fall on the victor. Ask Ted Cruz after the Iowa Caucuses.  Much of the media has focused on the over-performing Senator Marco Rubio third place finish. But with the tight timeline of primaries and stories emanating from unexpected results may mark the end of domination of the news cycle by realty show like media stunts. Not that such an inconvenient truth will dawn on everyone.  Conservative media pundit Ben Shapiro echoed Donald Trump's true tactic: "I keep whining and whining until I win."

 Time will tell if that continues to work in Election 2016.

Politicking, Faith and Forgiveness

In the hours before the Iowa Caucuses were held, CNN reported an odd story about the unconventional campaign of Dr. Ben Carson.  CNN reported that Carson was not immediately going to New Hampshire or South Carolina after the Hawkeye Cauci but would be heading home to Florida.

Campaigns on the ground in Iowa took that Carson curveball as an indication that Carson might be withdrawing from the nomination race. The Cruz campaign passed word out to their grassroots to use this news as a selling point in the caucuses.

In the end, Dr. Carson came in fourth place, with the same percentage of support that was indicated by the later polls. Yet the Carson campaign is crying foul that Cruz cheated.  Senator Ted Cruz (R-TX) offered an apology.  

Yet that uncommon political humility seemed insufficient for Dr. Carson.




Much of the impetus for the Carson campaign is evangelical Christian fervor.  It is curious how Dr. Carson is quick to label himself as a Christian but be parsimonious about forgiveness.  Carson later demanded his terms for forgiveness-- heads in the Cruz campaign should roll.

Several realities impact Carson's sanctimonious tact.  Firstly, his strategy of not rushing off to the campaign battlegrounds was giving a false flag. This was compounded by pushing back on the withdrawal rumor by claiming that Dr. Carson needed fresh clothes.

Secondly, the Cruz campaign was not the only one to seize upon reports of the Carson campaign's premature demise. Rubio ran with it too. So why the selective outrage? Might it not be due to faith principles but the cold calculation that Cruz and Carson campaigns are competing for the same slice of voters?

Thirdly, Dr. Carson is allowing himself to be used by Donald Trump.  After ingesting a brief serving of humble pie the night of his Iowa Caucus second place showing, the bombastic attack is back with the Donald.  This time, Trump is championing the cause of  Ben Carson, who was supposedly cheated by Ted Cruz, so there should be a do over in the Iowa Caucus.  Sure.  This "help" for Dr. Carson is coming from a good friend who compared the neurosurgeon to being pathological like a child molester in November.

The 2016 Republican Presidential primary process has hosted a half dozen religiously oriented candidates:  ex Gov. Mike Huckabee (R-AR); ex Senator Rick Santorum (R-PA); ex Gov. Bobby Jindal (R-LS); Gov. John Kasich (R-OH); Dr. Ben Carson and Senator Ted Cruz (R-TX). Others have tried to ingratiate themselves to evangelicals.  But we will know them by their actions.

 Referring to Two Corthinthians at Liberty University is a clue of being disingenuous. But what is more telling is candidate who does not want to bother God by asking for forgiveness.

Forgiveness is a vital part of walking the path of Christianity. Carson claims that he accepts Cruz's apology but it hardly sounds like it from his initial quote. The subsequent call for heads to roll sounds like conditional forgiveness.

But will that standard be be equally applied to all supposed wrongdoers? Should it matter that others are conflating this supposed harm to be a cudgel for their own purposes?  Was this stiff necked notion of mercy applied for someone who slandered you?

Jesuits have the concept of presupposition-  meaning that one gives another the benefit of a doubt unless proven otherwise.

While this conservative appreciates the constitutional and faith driven campaign of Dr. Carson, I have been unimpressed by the manner which he campaigns.  It is more than making rookie mistakes.  When he is in the spotlight, he seems to whine. What is more disconcerting is the duplicitous demonstration of faith, in which Carson embraces his duty of forgiveness as a Christian then makes stipulations on a sincere apology.  All the while, this kerfluffle is being exploited by someone who thrives in insults and acrimony. 

Iowa-- A Place Where Dreams Come True?

Will the winner of the Iowa Caucus believe that he found heaven in his political field of dreams, or will he be more concerned about being stuck in a hellish blizzard?

An Unconventional Concept of Caucuses

On Sarah's Choice

The already unconventional 2016 Republican Primary process was rocked by a charter flight between Anchorage, Alaska to Des Moines, Iowa for former Governor Sarah Palin’s (R-AK) of Donald J. Trump for President.  Gov. Palin was the maverick Vice Presidential choice of 2008 Republican nominee Senator John McCain (R-AZ), and her anti-establishment Republican conservatism was thought to carry cache with the Tea Party.

One of the beauties of the Tea Party is that it is not a leader driven movement.  It was sparked by a tax day 2009 protest about being Taxed Enough Already.  This movement occurred after Sarah Palin’s ascendency, so the Tea Party was energized by Palin espousing Tea Party policies but she did not necessarily embody the movement.  Even after it was clear that Palin was going to support his opponent in Election 2016, Senator Ted Cruz (R-TX) tweeted thanks to Palin for her prior support.

As a inveterate Tea Party type, I must admit disappointment in Sarah’s choice. Palin have often campaigned on limited government, ending government subsidies for ethanol, and strict adherence to the Constitution.  Yet Palin’s endorsement of Trump validates a candidate who hardly mentions the Constitution, panders for votes in Iowa by increasing ethanol mandates and whose rhetoric has an authoritarian edge.  In short, Palin chose populism over principle.

Since vaulting out of obscurity in Alaska, Sarah Palin has been a populist inspired conservative politician. Her choice to support Trump seems to drop the pretense of conservatism. Trump has cultivated a pugnacious appeal spoiling for a fight, although the objectives may be obscured. In 2008, Palin’s running mate John McCain relished being a maverick who will fight for you.  At the time, many Palin boosters thought that she would be a conservative oriented populist. Palin’s pick impeaches that perspective.

One might wonder what prompted Palin’s choice.  Well, Palin has been out of the limelight for a while.  After Palin left the Alaska Governorship in 2010, she was a political commentator for Fox News from 2011-2015.  When Fox News parted ways with Palin, Palin established the Sarah Palin Channel in 2014 but pulled the plug on the $9.95/month subscription price after a year. Now her video content is available free on Facebook. Palin also hosted Amazing America with Sarah Palin on the Sportman Channel in 2014.  This is a far cry from her GOP kingmaker potential in the early days of the Tea Party. Sarah's choice certainly put her back in the limelight, for now.

Much like Donald Trump, Sarah Palin is good at creating headlines for political junkies, even if both speakers have trouble stringing together sentences in their evocative appeals.  It is also a fair assessment that Trump and Palin either strongly appeal to supporters or loathing from opponents.

Will Sarah's choice help Donald Trump in the Iowa Caucuses?  Trump seems to be relying upon earned media and hype to drive supporters to the Hawkeye Cauci instead of an organized ground game. It is thought that Trump would have to garner a groundswell of new voters to go to the Caucus.  Social Media sports many Trump trolls who trumpet their leader, but it is hard to see support in Iowa itself.  Trump may hope that Palin’s endorsement will put them over the top, but he may end up wondering how that hopey-changey thing worked out for him.

In the end, Palin's endorsement of Trump may be a good thing for the Tea Party. It will clarify if the movement is meant as a populist rage against the GOP Establishment's machine or if it stands for conservative Constitutional principles.  In other election cycles, the latter group would have little choice but to opt for a populist.  But as it stands for the 2016 Iowa Caucuses, Tea Party conservatives  can choose Dr. Ben Carson or Senator Ted Cruz without sacrificing their principles. 

Donald Trump on NYC Mayor Bill De Blasio

No wonder GOP 2016  Presidential hopeful Senator Ted Cruz (R-TX) railed against New York Values at the Republican Debate in Charleston. 

During the exchange between GOP front runners Donald Trump seemed to have won the day with his paean to the heroes of 9/11.  However, reliable Iowa Caucus attendees what Cruz meant by New York Values.  Trump's comments about  New York City Mayor "Comrade" Bill De Blasio (D-NYC) as well as the mogul's 1998 interview with Tim Russert  underline New York Values. 

Scrutinizing who Donald Trump talked up prior to running for President as a Republican gives insight into his political values, the longevity of his beliefs, his judgment  and with whom the billionaire real estate/ television celebrity chooses to curry favor.