BloggeRhythms

In what pundits claim is a brilliant strategic ploy, Trump was endorsed by Carson just days before critical primary’s in Ohio and Florida in particular. The two engaged in mutual adoration, Carson saying: “[T]he billionaire front-runner has two sides: the combative campaign persona and a "very cerebral" approach in private.” 

Reading the announcement sent me back through my own notes to February 1, 2016, when just before the Iowa caucuses I posted an item from Chris Stirewalt’s column on FoxNews.com, as follows:   

“As far as Trump is concerned, though many are impressed that he works without a script, he really needs one. In Iowa he lashed out at Ben Carson and at voters in a 90-minute speech in front of a sometimes stunned Iowa crowd. Mr. Stirewalt says, “Trump believes he deserves the Republican nomination and appeared angry that voters would be “stupid” enough to believe Carson had the temperament to be president because of teenaged violence. 

“Trump claims that Iowans are stupid to believe Carson’s conversion story, because “Carson is like a “child molester” in that he will always be the same person who tried to stab a friend in high school. Carson says that when he accepted Jesus as his savior, Carson’s heart changed and the rage that had burned in him was extinguished. Trump says that you’re a fool if you believe Carson. That would make fools out of a lot of people on caucus night.” 

The same blog entry continued: “However, if you take Trump’s consistency theory one step further, it means that he hasn’t changed or grown either. Which means that he’s the same gut who almost lost all the real estate his dad left him, that the banks helped him to bail out. He’s also the guy who avoided the draft by staying in college. He failed at running a professional football team and bankrupted four Casino’s in New Jersey. He’s also the guy who was a Democrat for most of life.  

“Additionally, in 1990, due to excessive leveraging, The Trump Organization revealed that it was $5 billion in debt ($8.8 billion by some estimates), with $1 billion personally guaranteed by Trump himself. The survival of the company was made possible only by a bailout pact agreed upon in August of that same year by some 70 banks, allowing Trump to defer on nearly $1 billion in debt, as well as to take out second and third mortgages on almost all of his properties. If it were not for the collective effort of all banks and parties involved in that 1990 deal, Trump’s business would have gone bankrupt and failed. 

“Thus, if people truly are consistent as Trump is quite certain they are, he’s the last guy on earth that ought to be ranting about what’s in somebody else’s closet.” 

While the turnaround on Carson certainly confirms Trump's continual pattern of choosing self-serviance over personal integrity, it also provides quite clear evidence of what should be expected of him at all times. Because he’s obviously totally consistent in his beliefs, except for when he's not.  

At the same time, Rush still seems quite unable to decide which candidate to back, although he prides himself on being right 99.9% of the time. However, this time around he’s been vacillating between Trump and Cruz, with Cruz presently appearing to have gained a lead.

Yesterday, Rush said: “I think if Ted Cruz were to win, we would get the most focused, organized, smartest effort at unraveling Obamacare we could get. I think that there's no question in my mind that he means what he says.”

And then, a few minutes later, Rush added: “Ted Cruz was on fire and once again demonstrated that there isn't anybody with a more commanding presence and knowledge of the issues, and particularly the things that need to be fixed, the directions that need to be changed, the reasons this country's in trouble.” 

So, for what it’s worth, it would seem that whatever Rush’s loyal audience is at present, you can add that amount to Cruz’s total. 

And then, as the time change arrives this weekend, a Facebook friend posted this one: 

Bringing us to today’s update on Bill Clinton’s wife. 

Catherine Herridge and Pamela K. Browne write @FoxNews.com: “Former Hillary Clinton IT specialist Bryan Pagliano, a key witness in the email probe who struck an immunity deal with the Justice Department, has told the FBI a range of details about how her personal email system was set up, according to an intelligence source close to the case who called him a “devastating witness.” 

“The source said Pagliano told the FBI who had access to the former secretary of state’s system – as well as when – and what devices were used, amounting to a roadmap for investigators.” 

The intelligence source said: "Bryan Pagliano is a devastating witness and, as the webmaster, knows exactly who had access to [Clinton's] computer and devices at specific times. His importance to this case cannot be over-emphasized," . 

While not authorized to speak on the record due to the sensitivity of the ongoing investigation, the source said: “Pagliano has provided information allowing investigators to knit together the emails with other evidence, including images of Clinton on the road as secretary of state.” 

At the same time, with 150 FBI agents working for months on the reported investigation of "public corruption" at the Clinton Foundation, however these cases eventually turn out, things certainly seem to be heating up. 

Bringing up the ongoing question: Joe Biden, Mayor Bloomberg, Jerry Brown, and Starbuck’s chairman and CEO, Howard Schultz, are you guys reading this?   

That’s it for today folks.     

Adios