RAG Perspective: An American Pro-Liberty Conservative

Tuesday, April 12, 2016

Miscellany: 4/12/16

Quote of the Day
He who holds hopes for the human condition is a fool.
Albert Camus

Tweet of the Day

@JonahNRO Not true. I remember that the 2008 primaries were early, and Romney was still in the race for both.
— Ronald Guillemette (@raguillem) April 12, 2016

Uh-oh. Gary Busey is going to get fired from Political Apprentice. No Trump delegates from Colorado. He like totally forgot March 1 (weed?).
— Ronald Guillemette (@raguillem) April 12, 2016

"Your neighborhood Republicans are gathering March 1.You should know how to get involved." - Colorado Independent, Jan. 5.Can Trumpkins read
— Ronald Guillemette (@raguillem) April 12, 2016

Colorado has had a caucus system in place for several cycles for delegate selection, and they've held a separate, independent straw poll.
— Ronald Guillemette (@raguillem) April 12, 2016

The RNC made a recent rule change that tied delegates to straw polls. The Colorado GOP did not want that and decided in AUGUST to drop poll.
— Ronald Guillemette (@raguillem) April 12, 2016

The reason why Colorado wanted that is similar to why Trump loves early voting. Candidates drop out and early voters can't recast ballots.
— Ronald Guillemette (@raguillem) April 12, 2016

So whining, sleazy, lyin' Trump was incompetent on Colorado procedures, even though this was known to all GOP activists for months.
— Ronald Guillemette (@raguillem) April 12, 2016

Trump is an amateur.The Cruz campaign knew about the Colorado caucuses, but his didn't--or didn't care until it turns out he needs delegates
— Ronald Guillemette (@raguillem) April 12, 2016

Donald Trump may indeed love the poorly educated but he shouldn't hire them to his campaign.Sending Washngton state notices to DC supporters
— Ronald Guillemette (@raguillem) April 12, 2016

Of course, Drudge is promoting Trump's sour grapes complaint about the Colorado caucuses. The facts clearly establish Trump is an idiot.
— Ronald Guillemette (@raguillem) April 12, 2016

Cruz' griping about Drudge, which along with Breitbart is in the Trump camp and has been for months, is valid but counterproductive.
— Ronald Guillemette (@raguillem) April 12, 2016

But I don't see WI and CO wins making a dent in next week's NY primary polling. Trump hasn't gotten the Conservative Party or endorsements.
— Ronald Guillemette (@raguillem) April 12, 2016

I never underestimate Cruz' ground game, but polls are showing him under 20%, even behind Kasich. He needs a good showing for the next week.
— Ronald Guillemette (@raguillem) April 12, 2016

Trump allegedly told supporters one of his ideas after the Iran embargo is lifted, we should sell them defective missiles & say sales final.
— Ronald Guillemette (@raguillem) April 12, 2016

Even if that's Trump's weird sense of humor, it takes a corrupt businessman to suggest the US govt aid and abet fraud.
— Ronald Guillemette (@raguillem) April 12, 2016

Do you think that Congresss and the Israeli lobby would take missile sales to Iran lightly? Don't worry-Trump with a wink and a nod. Scam!
— Ronald Guillemette (@raguillem) April 12, 2016

Redstate reported that Trump's numbers are crashing in NY. The poll they cite did show an 8-point swing--from Trump in the 60's 3 weeks back
— Ronald Guillemette (@raguillem) April 12, 2016

On the other hand, they showed Cruz competitive in only 7 of 27 districts--and Trump leading by majority in half the districts.
— Ronald Guillemette (@raguillem) April 12, 2016

I've seen 6 NY polls with Trump 52-60. To win delegates, majority in the district, or 1st/2nd in a plurality. Cruz is facing a disaster.
— Ronald Guillemette (@raguillem) April 12, 2016

I see Paul Ryan gave enough speech to say he's not running for POTUS. I've thought him primarily as a 2020 candidate or brokered conv..
— Ronald Guillemette (@raguillem) April 12, 2016

This populist pitch by Trump for vengeance against alleged terrorists by waterboarding and even worse forms of torture is counterproductive.
— Ronald Guillemette (@raguillem) April 13, 2016

Trump is obsessed with how foreigners perceive the US. Yet his public bloodlust in the treatment of prisoners undercuts our moral leadership
— Ronald Guillemette (@raguillem) April 13, 2016

As a Catholic, I have concerns about Pope Francis and his progressive populist theology, including Amoris Laetitia. No to cultural surrender
— Ronald Guillemette (@raguillem) April 13, 2016

@MarkSKrikorian So now you're comparing immigrants to malicious hackers? How do you sleep at night, loser?
— Ronald Guillemette (@raguillem) April 13, 2016

You tried your very best #5WordBackhandedRemark
— Ronald Guillemette (@raguillem) April 13, 2016

Just your typical American family with children from 3 different mothers. #TrumpFamily
— Ronald Guillemette (@raguillem) April 13, 2016

@MeinGrammar Actually 65% of Asian teens live with their original parents, 54% of whites, 41% of Latinos, 17%. CEO's: little family time.
— Ronald Guillemette (@raguillem) April 13, 2016

The issue I have with Pope Francis and other progressive theologians is that they are hypocritically judgmental. Jesus:"Go and sin no more."
— Ronald Guillemette (@raguillem) April 13, 2016

There's a difference between condemning unethical actions vs. condemning the people who commit them.Moral leaders don't send mixed messages.
— Ronald Guillemette (@raguillem) April 13, 2016

Trump's Appeal

Political Humor: Hillary Clinton's 7 State Losing Streak

Political Cartoon

Courtesy of Gary Varvel via Townhall

Musical Interlude: My Favorite Vocalists

Donna Summer, "The Wanderer"

Monday, April 11, 2016

Miscellany: 4/11/16

Quote of the Day
Many individuals have, like uncut diamonds, shining qualities beneath a rough exterior.
Decimus Junius Juvenalis

Tweet of the Day

Drudge has ZERO credibility at this point. He's become a shill for Hillary's Donor, Trump;CO cancels POTUS election? pic.twitter.com/9hAHMnIL1x
— Ronald Guillemette (@raguillem) April 11, 2016

If Trump or Drudge had passed high school civics,they would have learned that we live in a representative democracy.The Colorado GOP variant
— Ronald Guillemette (@raguillem) April 11, 2016

Just like we don't elect the President directly but through electors, the Colorado GOP elects delegates at the local level, and these decide
— Ronald Guillemette (@raguillem) April 11, 2016

I'm sure there are some Trump cultists in Colorado; Tancredo is a noted anti-immigrant. But they weren't organized; that is a campaign fail.
— Ronald Guillemette (@raguillem) April 11, 2016

Trump is probably raising the Colorado issue now because he knows he needs to win a majority of delegates left, and Cruz just swept some.
— Ronald Guillemette (@raguillem) April 11, 2016

No doubt in Trump's version of Monopoly, you can go bankrupt 4 times and still win the game. #sarcasm #NeverTrump
— Ronald Guillemette (@raguillem) April 11, 2016

Election Betting Odds has actually seen the brokered convention go down about 6 points over the past week.It could be the brutal NE contests
— Ronald Guillemette (@raguillem) April 11, 2016

Another RCP poll over the weekend showing Trump with support just over 50%. It would be Trump's first. NY votes a lot of freaks into office.
— Ronald Guillemette (@raguillem) April 11, 2016

Today winning votes doesn’t mean anything, It’s a corrupt deal going on in this country and it’s not fair to you people.-Trump. What BS!
— Ronald Guillemette (@raguillem) April 11, 2016

Trump isn't worried about his cultist supporters. He's manipulating them for his own self-serving power and glory! Trump has no principles.
— Ronald Guillemette (@raguillem) April 11, 2016

There is nothing corrupt about a party wanting to stop a Trumpcopalypse at the polls this November that takes out the whole slate below him.
— Ronald Guillemette (@raguillem) April 11, 2016

Trump is a crony capitalist, a self-serving corrupt bastard. (Just Google it.) How do you think a NYC developer operates with all those regs
— Ronald Guillemette (@raguillem) April 11, 2016

I read a recent column accurately comparing Trump to Hoover and Nixon, neither of them conservatives in office. Hoover resisted FDR's pgms.
— Ronald Guillemette (@raguillem) April 11, 2016

1932: " Hoover attacked Roosevelt as a capitalist president who would only make the Depression worse by decreasing taxes, " (1/2)
— Ronald Guillemette (@raguillem) April 11, 2016

"reducing government intervention in the economy, promoting "trade [with] the world", and cutting government" Today's Dems run on that (2/2)
— Ronald Guillemette (@raguillem) April 11, 2016

FDR ran as not-Hoover. Remember how Clinton ran against Bush for going back on his "no new taxes" pledge? And then increased taxes?
— Ronald Guillemette (@raguillem) April 11, 2016

FDR then out-Hoovered Hoover, put Hoover's policies on steroids. And Hoover cried out, "Hey, I'm a more nuanced progressive than that."
— Ronald Guillemette (@raguillem) April 11, 2016

This is why we pro-liberty conservatives had an issue with Romney: he was from the more progressive party tradition, not saying Big Govt bad
— Ronald Guillemette (@raguillem) April 11, 2016

Romney was saying that he could run Big Govt more efficienty, straight from the Hoover playbook. And Trump has tried to co-opt that theme.
— Ronald Guillemette (@raguillem) April 11, 2016

We, of course, believe that government shouldn't waste our tax money. But it's more important to shrink government, which lessens tax burden
— Ronald Guillemette (@raguillem) April 11, 2016

I think that Romney is horrified by the idea Trump is stealing his playbook, just like Hoover was over FDR. Trump is not in Romney's league.
— Ronald Guillemette (@raguillem) April 11, 2016

I can't imagine Romney risking a business enterprise on high-interest bonds like Trump has. Just like Trump stiffed bondholders: taxpayers.
— Ronald Guillemette (@raguillem) April 11, 2016

President Trump #My2WordNightmare
— Ronald Guillemette (@raguillem) April 11, 2016

Interesting Judd Gregg piece in The Hill last month, saying the Congressional GOP is stuck between pick your poison: Trump v Cruz this fall.
— Ronald Guillemette (@raguillem) April 11, 2016

Cruz's unfavorables are not as extreme as Trump's. While Clinton is opening ground against Trump, Cruz is competitive, very well organized.
— Ronald Guillemette (@raguillem) April 11, 2016

@Glaivester You're full of shit if you think this election is about issues. Plus, most Republicans favor immigration and trade.
— Ronald Guillemette (@raguillem) April 11, 2016

@Glaivester Nope. Ryan is the one person who can unite pro-liberty and mainstream Republicans. Cruz has some appeal to pro-liberty ones.
— Ronald Guillemette (@raguillem) April 11, 2016

@Glaivester Nope. Ryan wasn't on the ballot, but he had to have the majority of the caucus to win Speaker. Neither Trump nor Cruz has a base
— Ronald Guillemette (@raguillem) April 11, 2016

@Glaivester You are ignoring exit polls repeatedly put immigration LAST. No Sessions or King. I'm now bored by you, anti-immigrant.
— Ronald Guillemette (@raguillem) April 11, 2016

I've sometimes published 30 or more tweets a day; I just hit a Tweet shower from a tweet a few days back saying favorable words about Ryan.
— Ronald Guillemette (@raguillem) April 11, 2016

He wasn't necessarily a Trump cultist. He was fine with Cruz, so long as Cruz remains anti-immigrant, anti-trade: i.e., anti-establishment.
— Ronald Guillemette (@raguillem) April 11, 2016

What I've liked about Newt Gingrich and Paul Ryan as that they've attempted to outline a 21st century agenda. I don't necessarily agree, but
— Ronald Guillemette (@raguillem) April 11, 2016

Trump is like that asshole you remember from high school who bitches about everything but doesn't really have a constructive answer.
— Ronald Guillemette (@raguillem) April 11, 2016

When you press Trump for details, he has lots of excuses, e.g., "I'm not going to reveal the hand I'm holding." Even immigration.
— Ronald Guillemette (@raguillem) April 11, 2016

When NYT hinted Trump suggested that mass deportation was just a bargaining chip, Trump made up some half-assed excuse not to release things
— Ronald Guillemette (@raguillem) April 11, 2016

You would think that the anti-immigrant Trumpkins might revolt if they knew Trump was using them to get votes but would throw them under bus
— Ronald Guillemette (@raguillem) April 11, 2016

It's just like the Trump University scam. Why would Trump really tell you his "secrets"?Because he's made enough money & now wants to share?
— Ronald Guillemette (@raguillem) April 11, 2016

Why would Trump leave money on the table? This is the same guy who once bought an airline, branded ice, vodka, steaks, magazines, etc.
— Ronald Guillemette (@raguillem) April 11, 2016

Trump wants his kids to inherit his empire, built on what his father gave and/or did for him. So he wants to let you in the door? Oldest con
— Ronald Guillemette (@raguillem) April 11, 2016

Trump wants what every corrupt businessman wants--the power of govt. Legit businesses succeed despite govt, not because of it.
— Ronald Guillemette (@raguillem) April 11, 2016

Trump is running a Presidential campaign infomercial. You never needed a chia lawn gnome, but Trump tells you he'll send you one below cost.
— Ronald Guillemette (@raguillem) April 11, 2016

Trump on healthcare is simply absurd. He talks about erasing lines between states. There's a federalism argument at stake: tenth amendment.
— Ronald Guillemette (@raguillem) April 11, 2016

The problem is that state governments often pursue anti-competitive agenda mounted by special interests. For example, you must cover X,Y, Z.
— Ronald Guillemette (@raguillem) April 11, 2016

Doctors may resent doctors from another state or object to nurse-practitioners handling common ailments. The feds could play a useful role.
— Ronald Guillemette (@raguillem) April 11, 2016

Sure, there are some state reciprocity agreements. But with today's mobile workers, you need support which enables portability of coverage.
— Ronald Guillemette (@raguillem) April 11, 2016

For example, I've held driver licenses in FL, TX (multiple), WI, IL (multiple), CA, MD, WV, and SC. And I was an Air Force brat before that.
— Ronald Guillemette (@raguillem) April 11, 2016

Most of us on the conservative/libertarian side want issuers to compete across states for major medical/catastrophic,expand self-insured gps
— Ronald Guillemette (@raguillem) April 11, 2016

It turns out that a couple of Trump's adult kids aren't even registered & so won't be able to vote for dad next week. It runs in the family.
— Ronald Guillemette (@raguillem) April 11, 2016

A much better govt solution to healthcare would include shoring up high risk pools and premium subsidies, cap and universalize tax breaks.
— Ronald Guillemette (@raguillem) April 11, 2016

That being said, I want a fully privatized healthcare system. But at least we can agree that centralized govt solutions are unsustainable.
— Ronald Guillemette (@raguillem) April 11, 2016

Barry Obama admits intervention in Libya was a mistake; before intervening, prepare for the aftermath. Hello, does Iraq in 2003 ring a bell?
— Ronald Guillemette (@raguillem) April 11, 2016

"Muammar Gaddafi, Libya's leader, has said that al-Qaeda is responsible for the uprising against him"; does Obama have the CIA look into it?
— Ronald Guillemette (@raguillem) April 11, 2016

Why don't we hear the Left say "Barry and Hillary lied; diplomats and Libyans died"?
— Ronald Guillemette (@raguillem) April 11, 2016

Intervention in domestic or foreign affairs has unseen, unintended consequences. Libya under Gaddafi did not pose a via military threat.
— Ronald Guillemette (@raguillem) April 11, 2016

Daily Wire did a post on Lyin' Donald Trump's top 101 documented lies (just Google it). He's scammed more people than the Nigerian prince.
— Ronald Guillemette (@raguillem) April 11, 2016

For someone who claimed to have the judgment to come out early against Iraq intervention, Obama, you had the judgment to war all over MEast.
— Ronald Guillemette (@raguillem) April 11, 2016

It's weird to see Obama trash Trump:both claimed to have opposed the Iraq War; both want national healthcare;both want to deport immigrants.
— Ronald Guillemette (@raguillem) April 11, 2016

Both Obama and Trump supported TARP; Obama and Trump want to bomb the hell out of ISIS; Obama and Trump bash American companies and FNC.
— Ronald Guillemette (@raguillem) April 11, 2016

I think that Donald Trump, despite protests otherwise, is running to be the third term of Obama.
— Ronald Guillemette (@raguillem) April 11, 2016

@AlexNowrasteh @MendlovitzMark @joldmcginn . Yes and no. I agree that the Dems started vs. the Alien and Sedition Acts. But 20th century..
— Ronald Guillemette (@raguillem) April 11, 2016

@AlexNowrasteh @MendlovitzMark @joldmcginn Constituencies like labor, KKK were anti-immigrant, and Wilson disliked certain ethnic groups.
— Ronald Guillemette (@raguillem) April 11, 2016

Facebook Corner

(Reason). "I would vote against marijuana legalization. If the state of Texas had a referendum on it, I would vote no. But I think it is the prerogative of the states to make that determination. I think the people of Colorado have the right to make the decision that they've made under the Constitution, and as president I would respect that right." -- Ted Cruz
I wish Ted Cruz had as much respect for the ninth amendment as he has for the tenth. He still believes in the right of states to prosecute victimless crimes.

Bad Research, Abused Statistics, Political Correctness and an Alleged Rape Culture

Snowden on Govt Accountability

Political Cartoon

Courtesy of Lisa Benson via Ron Paul

Musical Interlude: My Favorite Vocalists

Donna Summer, "On the Radio". The incredible Top 5 run of 8 hits over 1978-9 ended with this hit. She would go on to score a handful of top 10 hits over the 1980's.

Sunday, April 10, 2016

Miscellany: 4/10/16

Quote of the Day
Tread softly because you tread on my dreams.
William Butler Yeats

Tweet of the Day

If someone had told me after Obama was elected in 2008 that after 8 years in exile, the GOP could nominate the most unelectable man, Trump,.
— Ronald Guillemette (@raguillem) April 10, 2016

The Trump campaign is like the Trump University scam; yeah, millions of Americans will have learned something:they wasted votes on a con man
— Ronald Guillemette (@raguillem) April 10, 2016

The media made Donald Trump; they have given hundreds of millions of dollars of "free" coverage to Trump--and yet he calls others corrupt.
— Ronald Guillemette (@raguillem) April 10, 2016

The foreign policy of Donald Trump sounds like the result of a college bull session where people have drunk or smoked too much.
— Ronald Guillemette (@raguillem) April 10, 2016

To be honest, when Kay Bailey Hutchison stepped down in 2012, I was hoping that Ron Paul would throw his hat into the ring. Epic floor rants
— Ronald Guillemette (@raguillem) April 10, 2016

Over the weekend, I read or listened to too many pundits saying if the GOP doesn't give the nomination to Trump or Cruz, it's "unfair". NO!
— Ronald Guillemette (@raguillem) April 10, 2016

I support Cruz over Trump. but I would prefer a more pro-liberty candidate. Neither candidate will have won a simple majority of votes.
— Ronald Guillemette (@raguillem) April 10, 2016

Nearly two-thirds of those who voted (never mind Republicans who didn't vote or independents) voted AGAINST Trump and/or Cruz.
— Ronald Guillemette (@raguillem) April 10, 2016

When polls show either Trump or Cruz losing to a left-wing Dem, the party has a right to say in the middle of a Trumperstorm, game over.
— Ronald Guillemette (@raguillem) April 10, 2016

If you look beyond the fact that Trump is an asshole, the guy's positions are against almost everything the party has been fighting for.
— Ronald Guillemette (@raguillem) April 10, 2016

The GOP not only has a candidate for POTUS, but candidates down the ballot who will lose with the wrong person heading the ticket.
— Ronald Guillemette (@raguillem) April 10, 2016

I keep waiting to see Cruz run a more positive, inclusive, general election campaign, and I haven't seen it yet. That's why he's in trouble.
— Ronald Guillemette (@raguillem) April 10, 2016

Let's face it: none of us nominated Trump, Cruz, Clinton or Sanders to run for POTUS, even if we voted for someone on the ballot.
— Ronald Guillemette (@raguillem) April 10, 2016

I would vote for a random selection from the George Mason University economics department over any of the existing 4 clowns.
— Ronald Guillemette (@raguillem) April 10, 2016

I don't know about this speculation about drafting Gen James Mattis to run if Trump is nominated. This sounds like Eisenhower v Taft in 1952
— Ronald Guillemette (@raguillem) April 10, 2016

If I could be convinced this isn't some neocon pipedream, if Mattis was for restoring liberty from decades of progressive policies, maybe so
— Ronald Guillemette (@raguillem) April 10, 2016

I have to say, though, Mattis, the warrior monk, intrigues me. The undergrad philosophy major in me loves the fact he knows Marcus Aurelius.
— Ronald Guillemette (@raguillem) April 10, 2016

Mattis, 65, thinks that he's too old. Of the 4 viable candidates, only Cruz is younger than Mattis.
— Ronald Guillemette (@raguillem) April 10, 2016

I have six younger sisters and brothers: beautiful gifts from God. I'm so proud of them. I wouldn't change a thing. #NationalSiblingsDay
— Ronald Guillemette (@raguillem) April 10, 2016

Mattis could grow on me. Generals know the hell of war, and remember, it was Eisenhower who warned against the military-industrial complex.
— Ronald Guillemette (@raguillem) April 10, 2016

Heaven knows that military officers are self-disciplined and respectful. Mattis: a sea change from the unfiltered, loose-canon Trump,
— Ronald Guillemette (@raguillem) April 10, 2016

Imagine a Presidential candidate who retweets ancient Roman/Greek/Chinese quotes vs. an unflattering picture of another candidate's wife.
— Ronald Guillemette (@raguillem) April 10, 2016

The Boston Globe asks: what if Donald Trump became President? Let the madness begin... pic.twitter.com/eOokZeXoDH
— Ronald Guillemette (@raguillem) April 10, 2016

The Al Gore Inquisition of state/federal AG thugs is unconstitutional,a corrupt religion of climate change alarmism. pic.twitter.com/pTHC9W9w6z
— Ronald Guillemette (@raguillem) April 10, 2016

A true scientiist is motivated by an empirically-validated pursuit of the truth. Appeals are to independently verified, replicated evidence.
— Ronald Guillemette (@raguillem) April 10, 2016

@DRUDGE_REPORT Here's the point, whining, sleazy, loser Donnie: you don't get to make the rules. Your job is to play by the rules.
— Ronald Guillemette (@raguillem) April 11, 2016

Trump's whining about Colorado is self-serving. There is a democratic process in delegate selection; you vote through county delegates.
— Ronald Guillemette (@raguillem) April 11, 2016

Trump didn't complain about winning all of Florida's delegates although he got less than half the vote. For the House, we vote by district.
— Ronald Guillemette (@raguillem) April 11, 2016

Cruz has spent time and resources building a strong campaign organization in all of the states. Trump's campaign was not organized in CO.
— Ronald Guillemette (@raguillem) April 11, 2016

Trump has more resources than Cruz. There's no excuse for him not knowing Colorado's indirect delegate selection process and having prepared
— Ronald Guillemette (@raguillem) April 11, 2016

If Trump cannot effectively administer his own campaign, how can voters trust him with running a govt and nearly $4T federal budget?
— Ronald Guillemette (@raguillem) April 11, 2016

I am just sick and tired of Trump's constant whining and excuses. Man up, loser! We already know that Obama has really screwed up over 8 yrs
— Ronald Guillemette (@raguillem) April 11, 2016

Obama spent the first few years of his presidency bashing Bush. Would Trump do the same thing? Nobody in Congress is running on his agenda.
— Ronald Guillemette (@raguillem) April 11, 2016

I have to believe that there are thousands, maybe millions of voters who have regretted voting for Trump. Early voting has drawbacks.
— Ronald Guillemette (@raguillem) April 11, 2016

Image of the Day

Political Cartoon

Courtesy of Nate Beeler via Townhall

Musical Interlude: My Favorite Vocalists

Donna Summer (with Barbra Streisand), "No More Tears (Enough is Enough)". Her final #1.

What If Trump Becomes President

Welcome to Trump's America in 2017.
Via Boston Globe Opinion - The front page we hope we never have to print. Welcome to Donald J. Trump's America in 2017. Read more on Globe.com: http://bos.gl/9gyeOYJ
Posted by The Boston Globe on Saturday, April 9, 2016

Saturday, April 9, 2016

Miscellany: 4/09/16

Quote of the Day
Order is to arrangement
what the soul is to the body, and
what mind is to matter.
Joseph Joubert

Tweet of the Day

@realDonaldTrump Look, if you find it inconvenient to play by the rules, get the hell out of the game, Whining, Sleazy Donald.
— Ronald Guillemette (@raguillem) April 9, 2016

Trump is starting to annoy me. I was never Trump before #NeverTrump, but I never thought I would see so many people follow the Pied Piper.
— Ronald Guillemette (@raguillem) April 9, 2016

When I meet narcissists like Trump who are a little too full of themselves, I usually tend to mock them rather than get in their faces.
— Ronald Guillemette (@raguillem) April 9, 2016

Trump can't let up reminding us how many people he has conned into voting for him so far this cycle. But let me remind you no majority win.
— Ronald Guillemette (@raguillem) April 9, 2016

Trump has lost by double-digit percentages in places like TX, ID, WI, UT and OH. He blew a 5-point lead in IA and barely held on in LA & MO.
— Ronald Guillemette (@raguillem) April 9, 2016

Millions more of voters have voted against Trump than for him. More delegates are non-Trump to date, which is why he needs 494/879 delegates
— Ronald Guillemette (@raguillem) April 9, 2016

As some 14 competitors have dropped out of the race, Trump has picked up only negligible support & in national polls Cruz is < 10 pts away.
— Ronald Guillemette (@raguillem) April 9, 2016

Trump will not win a brokered convention. He has to come to the convention with 1237 delegates or he is done. He loses badly to the Dems.
— Ronald Guillemette (@raguillem) April 9, 2016

The USPS is doing something it hasn't done in nearly 100 years--lowering the price of stamps (by 2 cents).Obviously it hopes for more volume
— Ronald Guillemette (@raguillem) April 9, 2016

The US is one of the few countries in the developed world to maintain a public monopoly over mail. Its labor costs are outrageous.
— Ronald Guillemette (@raguillem) April 9, 2016

I've blogged about past USPS experiences,including I was punched from behind while arguing a postal insurance claim & they lost an Xmas gift
— Ronald Guillemette (@raguillem) April 9, 2016

By the USPS losing my mom's package, I mean it got here while I was at work, but they couldn't find it when/after I went to claim it. 2 wks.
— Ronald Guillemette (@raguillem) April 9, 2016

My mom had insured the package but made the mistake of wanting me to sign for it. (Over my objections:long story.) Her claim:bureaucracy.
— Ronald Guillemette (@raguillem) April 9, 2016

I discovered Amazon had sent my last purchase through USPS. USPS won't do apartment deliveries, although other package delivery services do.
— Ronald Guillemette (@raguillem) April 9, 2016

Erick Erickson reminds us that the Tea Party and conservative activists were the anti-establishment types, not Trump.Trump BRAGS about deals
— Ronald Guillemette (@raguillem) April 9, 2016

Have you seen Dems go after Pelosi and Reid? No. But it was the GOP activists who went after Cantor and Boehner. Trump was not part of that.
— Ronald Guillemette (@raguillem) April 9, 2016

The same Trump cultists (and Trump himself) who point out that Cruz has won the endorsement of a few Senators claim to be anti-establishment
— Ronald Guillemette (@raguillem) April 9, 2016

All that electing Trump will do is reshuffle the deck of corrupt dealmaking, instead of Reid making the Cornhusker Kickback and LA Purchase.
— Ronald Guillemette (@raguillem) April 9, 2016

Cruz' strategy in NY is simple: be as competitive as possible to keep Trump below 50% in Congressional districts. Obviously NYC is difficult
— Ronald Guillemette (@raguillem) April 9, 2016

This is Soft Rock America. The best thing to come out of New York was not a demagogue but my first girlfriend: https://t.co/Sfk8XbdEWn
— Ronald Guillemette (@raguillem) April 9, 2016

Unconditional love, acceptance, trust, sacrifice #FamilyValuesIn5Words
— Ronald Guillemette (@raguillem) April 9, 2016

Knowing the pervasiveness of academic progressivism, I despair of younger generations getting a true university experience. I had prevailed.
— Ronald Guillemette (@raguillem) April 9, 2016

It didn't surprise me that a nephew and niece, who had majored in performance arts, became Obama cultists.Few others have discussed politics
— Ronald Guillemette (@raguillem) April 9, 2016

So I was surprised the other day to find a nephew had posted a political comment against the minimum wage, which isn't popular. I'm so proud
— Ronald Guillemette (@raguillem) April 9, 2016

My political evolution was not a case of having a free market or conservative professor during 4 degree programs.It was a growing skepticism
— Ronald Guillemette (@raguillem) April 9, 2016

A non-interventionist perspective evolved because I'm a military brat and my Dad had served during 2 wars; rwo siblings and I are veterans.
— Ronald Guillemette (@raguillem) April 9, 2016

Maybe it started with a childhood friend's dad dying in an unpopular war. Or my first resident assistant who lost his leg in Vietnam.
— Ronald Guillemette (@raguillem) April 9, 2016

It wasn't a case of listening to a Ron Paul rant against an activist foreign policy inviting blowback. It was about resolving inconsistency
— Ronald Guillemette (@raguillem) April 9, 2016

If I argued that activist domestic policy was expensive and counterproductive, how could I argue for expanding activist foreign commitments?
— Ronald Guillemette (@raguillem) April 9, 2016

A Clintonian definition of milk: it depends on what the meaning of milk is.U.S. District Judge Robert Hinkle ruled against natural skim milk
— Ronald Guillemette (@raguillem) April 9, 2016

Florida has decided unless dairies add back fat-soluble vitamins to skim milk, they cannot claim the name skim milk. Frankenmilk is not milk
— Ronald Guillemette (@raguillem) April 9, 2016

At a time Bernie Sanders wants to add business regulations, France's socialist govt is lowering labor constaints. https://t.co/4wzGjw7phH
— Ronald Guillemette (@raguillem) April 9, 2016

Drudge continues to promote right-fascist Trump. One of his links promises that Trump cultists will defect or stay home if Trump is denied.
— Ronald Guillemette (@raguillem) April 9, 2016

Ask me if I give a bleep over what the Trump cultists will do--vote for the political whore Trump funded? Trump will lose, period.
— Ronald Guillemette (@raguillem) April 9, 2016

The Trump cultist idiots are hyping Trump's unfavorables are just like Reagan's at this point of the campaign. BULLSHIT! Trump far worse.
— Ronald Guillemette (@raguillem) April 9, 2016

I resent any comparison of Trump to Reagan, who described himself as libertarian. But 538 demolishes the comparison: https://t.co/F2dCOEGD2y
— Ronald Guillemette (@raguillem) April 9, 2016

The Trump cultists want to threaten 1964 all over again. Personally, I blame the loss on Hillary Rodham being a Goldwater Girl. #sarcasm
— Ronald Guillemette (@raguillem) April 9, 2016

The GOP and conservatives survived 1964, with the keynote speaker winning the Presidency in 1980. But the Party of Trump is a death wish.
— Ronald Guillemette (@raguillem) April 9, 2016

This phony, infuriating Trump comparison to Reagan: Trump is pissing all over Reagan's grave. Reagan was for open trade and immigration.
— Ronald Guillemette (@raguillem) April 9, 2016

I criticized Walter Block, a brilliant free market economist, for forming Libertarians for Trump.Tom Woods says that Block is not endorsing.
— Ronald Guillemette (@raguillem) April 9, 2016

Woods writes that Block sees Trump as a tool to destroy the GOP establishment. There's much to say for purging GOP leadership but Trump?
— Ronald Guillemette (@raguillem) April 9, 2016

I will say that a well-known free market economist concurs with my dismay over Block's move. Be really careful of what you wish for.
— Ronald Guillemette (@raguillem) April 9, 2016

Ed Krayewski of Reason rightly points out Trump's purported non-interventionism is mostly smoke & mirrors;he simply want to repackage policy
— Ronald Guillemette (@raguillem) April 9, 2016

One of the concerns of my nephew cited earlier was jobs for the next generation. I am not a futurist but I can see ways of sharing resources
— Ronald Guillemette (@raguillem) April 9, 2016

For example, back in 2000, I worked for a consulting company in the San Jose area which didn't have a LT project which could book 40 hrs/wk.
— Ronald Guillemette (@raguillem) April 9, 2016

I remember one week I literally went to 4 different customer sites for full days of billing; client budgets couldn't afford > 2 days/week.
— Ronald Guillemette (@raguillem) April 9, 2016

Another case might be a university with limited major resources; colleges could provide more specialized offerings among campuses.
— Ronald Guillemette (@raguillem) April 9, 2016

I expect some will say that variations of these concepts already exist, but I have a more comprehensive approach,including training/exposure
— Ronald Guillemette (@raguillem) April 9, 2016

For example, I might audit a class in data mining before teaching it for the first time. Or another company is implementing new software.
— Ronald Guillemette (@raguillem) April 9, 2016

The STEM areas (science, technology, engineering math) should continue to be important. Small-scale (3D) production, personalized drugs.
— Ronald Guillemette (@raguillem) April 9, 2016

"The good news is that Hillary Clinton's policies are losing. The bad news is that Bernie Sanders' policies are winning." - Reason
— Ronald Guillemette (@raguillem) April 9, 2016

Okay, it's bad enough when Trump talked about Baby Tiffany's breasts, but when he groped Rudy Giuliani's boobs? pic.twitter.com/n1L2bhiqGZ
— Ronald Guillemette (@raguillem) April 9, 2016

There's nothing funny about Matt Welch's top 10 bad Bernie Sanders ideas, all perversions of the Constitution's construct of limited govt.
— Ronald Guillemette (@raguillem) April 9, 2016

This is Soft Rock America. This goes out to the fool who convinced Trump that he was qualified to be POTUS: https://t.co/ecJ95WfJHE
— Ronald Guillemette (@raguillem) April 9, 2016

Image of the Day

Classical Liberalism

Political Cartoon

Courtesy of Eric Allie via Illinois Policy

Musical Interlude: My Favorite Vocalists

Donna Summmer, "Dim All the Lights"

Choose Life: I Love You, Little One

I love yoooooou!!
This is one of those seemingly random internet things that make you stop whatever you’re doing and just exclaim “Awww”. This mom was just spending some quality time with her baby and goofing around when baby said THIS and immediately became viral sensation. It’s a good thing mom had her phone handy because knowing that this video exists makes the world a happier place. “Aya ooOOOooo”Have you ever seen anything this adorable? Just this one moment is enough to make all of those poopy diapers and sleepless nights totally worth it.
Posted by Social Media Odyssey on Tuesday, April 5, 2016

Friday, April 8, 2016

Miscellany: 4/08/16

Quote of the Day
The only people for me are the mad ones.
The ones who are mad to love, mad to talk, mad to be saved;
the ones who never yawn or say a commonplace thing,
but burn, burn, burn like fabulous yellow Roman candles exploding like spiders across the stars.
Jack Kerouac

Tweet of the Day

It's amazing how people are inconsistent on trade. Up to a third of our oil is imported, but nobody talks about lost domestic energy jobs.
— Ronald Guillemette (@raguillem) April 8, 2016

Nobody gripes about CA's surplus in vegetables and nuts. I do recall when Tombstone Pizza was acquired by Kraft a kerfuffle over WI cheese.
— Ronald Guillemette (@raguillem) April 8, 2016

I can't really tell you the difference between California and Wisconsin cheese. I am partial to Dutch gouda, a childhood memory from France.— Ronald Guillemette (@raguillem) April 8, 2016

When my Dad was stationed in France, we couldn't get on-base housing.We rented in a small French town.My Mom would buy waxed Gouda balls.
— Ronald Guillemette (@raguillem) April 8, 2016

My favorite French memory was going to the local boulangerie and buying freshly baked baguettes. The smell, crunchy crust, spongy interior!
— Ronald Guillemette (@raguillem) April 8, 2016

Hershey imports cocoa beans for its chocolates. About 70% of the global crop is from Africa; other growers include Asia and south of the US.
— Ronald Guillemette (@raguillem) April 8, 2016

Vehicles contain parts and/or resources produced across the globe.Some assembly work is done by robotics.So what exactly is the trade point?
— Ronald Guillemette (@raguillem) April 8, 2016

There are jobs in raw materials, parts or components, final products. Are we an autarky? No. I buy goods; I'm not buying local jobs.
— Ronald Guillemette (@raguillem) April 8, 2016

We should not be insanely trying to bring back boring, low-skill, low-paying work from other countries. We need to get govt out of the way.
— Ronald Guillemette (@raguillem) April 8, 2016

Let me give a personal story to make the point. My first married sister's father-in-law owns an east Texas ranch, including cattle.
— Ronald Guillemette (@raguillem) April 8, 2016

I remember visiting them after I had moved to Houston. My sister prepared a roast from "Blue Eyes". Grass-fed beef is different to prepare.
— Ronald Guillemette (@raguillem) April 8, 2016

Years later, I'm on a low-carb kick and was interested in buying grass-fed beef, which has a more favorable Omega 3/Omega 6 ratio.
— Ronald Guillemette (@raguillem) April 8, 2016

I know I asked my brother-in-law about buying beef from the ranch; in the interim, I had found a distributor out of Bethesda, MD: a hassle.
— Ronald Guillemette (@raguillem) April 8, 2016

Whether my query or his own assessment of growing demand for grass-fed meat, my brother-in-law started putting together a website.
— Ronald Guillemette (@raguillem) April 8, 2016

My sister worked on a recipe section,writing about how to prepare grass-fed meat, & my niece, a graphic artist, also worked on presentation.
— Ronald Guillemette (@raguillem) April 8, 2016

Abruptly my brother-in-law changed business models & focused on reselling premium steaks.He didn't discuss it but implied USDA regs at fault
— Ronald Guillemette (@raguillem) April 8, 2016

In a number of states, you may be able to market products like raw milk but not sell them across state lines (PA to MD).Other rules for meat
— Ronald Guillemette (@raguillem) April 8, 2016

States often have an exemption for personally owned animals, meat not for resale. So you may be able to buy an animal and have it processed.
— Ronald Guillemette (@raguillem) April 8, 2016

The difficulty is that it can be next to impossible to get USDA inspections if you're a small-scale rancher. This should be privatized.
— Ronald Guillemette (@raguillem) April 8, 2016

The USDA monopoly is anti-consumer. Third-party inspections, like independent auditors of financial statements, could attest to the same.
— Ronald Guillemette (@raguillem) April 8, 2016

Will Meyn Kelly stay with FNC once her contract expires after the election?I think she probably wants a big raise, but she's got a great job
— Ronald Guillemette (@raguillem) April 8, 2016

Kelly has one of the highest rated shows on cable, but I'm not sure viewers would follow her to a new network. Maybe a national news anchor.
— Ronald Guillemette (@raguillem) April 8, 2016

It depends on Megyn Kelly's own priorities. Does she want to establish herself beyond the Fox brand? But she has a prominent platform on FNC
— Ronald Guillemette (@raguillem) April 8, 2016

Donald Trump seems to want to make the upcoming NY primary a referendum on 9/11 and the shared experience of New Yorkers. Rather disturbing
— Ronald Guillemette (@raguillem) April 8, 2016

Trevor Noah has uncovered another gross Trump clip,from his second marriage, where Trump starts speculating about the breasts of 1YO Tiffany
— Ronald Guillemette (@raguillem) April 8, 2016

The original question was like the Paul Davis song: "She's got your eyes, she's got my nose." Chin, hair, cheeks https://t.co/E59qTc8hgp
— Ronald Guillemette (@raguillem) April 8, 2016

The latest Emerson poll in NY is not good for Cruz; in fact, he does worse against Clinton than Sanders. He needs to tie into NY corruption.
— Ronald Guillemette (@raguillem) April 8, 2016

I'm sure that Trump has a lot of enemies in his home state. A lot of investors lost money on Trump bonds. Small businesses got the shaft.
— Ronald Guillemette (@raguillem) April 8, 2016

I attract some interesting followers. I lost one recently on campus reform after I got tired of "Trump in 2016" chalking, "All Lives Matter"
— Ronald Guillemette (@raguillem) April 8, 2016

I was a professor for 5 years, and I've experienced progressive repression, lack of due process and political correctness first-hand.
— Ronald Guillemette (@raguillem) April 8, 2016

I believe in free expression, and that includes delusional supporters of Trump, Clinton and Sanders.They won't turn me into a fascist zombie
— Ronald Guillemette (@raguillem) April 8, 2016

I empathize with the plight of urban minorities dependent on a morally corrupt, dysfunctional State, high incarceration, failed education.
— Ronald Guillemette (@raguillem) April 8, 2016

Everyone must have heard by now that a white-robed Franciscan friar wearing a rosary at IU got mistaken for a Klansman with a whip. Idiots.
— Ronald Guillemette (@raguillem) April 8, 2016

As a Catholic, I found a followup satirical account hilarious, that finds IU more concerned with praying friars: https://t.co/W0WXG1zei5
— Ronald Guillemette (@raguillem) April 8, 2016

Faulty Science Behind the War on Drugs

Note that I am not advocating drug use; I'm arguing for decriminalization.

The Living Wage Means a Dying Business

Political Cartoon

Courtesy of Michael Ramirez via Townhall

Musical Interlude: My Favorite Vocalists

Donna Summer, "Bad Girls". Her second straight #1 and her third.

FIRE: Free Speech on Campus

Comedy, College, and the Fight to Save Free Speech: Can We Tak...
"For the overwhelming majority of my career what I've been fighting is administration overreach," says Greg Lukianoff, president of the Foundation for Individual Rights in Education, which advocates for individual liberty in academia. "During that entire time the single constituency on campus that seemed to have the most common sense and seemed to understand free speech and due process the best was always the students. And somewhere, two or three years ago, it just kind of changed."
Posted by Reason Magazine on Friday, April 8, 2016