Sorry for the absence over the last few weeks. For those who follow me on Twitter and Facebook, you know I have not met with doom or foul play. Between working on campaigns, despair over their results and having to take care of some matters in my personal life, it has unfortunately left me with little time and a severe case of writer’s block. I had numerous articles that never left the draft stage. However, don’t despair. The stupor has cleared. Articles will be forthcoming soon. There is work to be done. Freedom is on the line. I will not be silent.
At CPAC to day, as expected, Dr. Ben Carson announced that he was suspending his his campaign for the Republican nomination for President. Two days ago, Dr. Carson announced that he saw no viable path forward and would not be participating in the debate, but did not formally announce a suspension in his campaign. Carson anounced earlier today that he will serve as national chairman for My Faith Votes and pledged to continue to be involved in the election.
Trump skipped the debate in Iowa in January to hold a “fundraiser” for veterans after his public spat with Megyn Kelly and Fox News. His alternative event was controversial as he originally was looking to partner with the Wounded Warrior Project which had fallen under heavy scrutiny over its internal spending. As this site previously reported, on the DAY of the event Trump registered the domain DonaldTrump forVets.com and directed contributions to the Donald J. Trump Foundation with no specific veterans organizations listed as beneficiaries.
In fact, some veterans organizations specifically refused to participate declining to be a political prop for Trump. Trump claimed to have raised $6 million for veterans which included $1 million from himself. Here is the webpage that was tossed up on the day of the event. It is still up requesting donations and claims to have raised $1,670,000 online.
CNN investigative reporter Drew Hicks investigated the distribution of these funds. He was told by the Trump campaign that the information was available on their website. It is not. He went to the known beneficiaries and to date has only been able to track down $800,000 that has been distributed. This leaves $5.2 million unaccounted for. Where’s the money Donald? Is this how you’re going to take care of our vets?
After receiving only 7.8% of the vote in the South Carolina primary, Jeb Bush announced that he was suspending his campaign for President. It ends several days of wild speculation that his campaign was at an end. The Resurgent reported earlier in the week that a conference call had announced that payroll for staff was ending today. The report was picked up by Politico with the addition that staff members were circulating resumes. In an interview with Megyn Kelly Friday night on Fox News, Jeb dismissed the report but did not deny it.
Jeb was the original favorites among Republicans and many expected a Clinton-Bush rematch in the November election. Jeb was the favorite target of Donald Trump and Jeb was one of the few Republican candidates to attack back.
In his farewell speech, he thanked family and staff who had stuck with him and congratulated the remaining candidates “on the island.” (no doubt a reality TV smack). He made no reference to any endorsements, but simply spoke going home to sleep with his best friend and in a touching moment kissed his wife Columba.
At Marco Rubio’s headquarters in Colombia, Governor Nikki Haley congratulated the governor on his campaign. Likewise, Marco Rubio referred to Governor Bush as “the greatest Governor Florida has ever had” and hoped that his career of public service would continue.
Donald Trump managed to translate his lead in the polls to voting booths. He secured a double digit winning margin at 34% compared to 22% for both Rubio and Cruz. Rubio came in ahead of Cruz for second. No other contenders were in double digits. Bush 7.8%, Kasich 7.6% and Carson 7.2%.
In terms of delegates, Trump will receive the lion’s share as South Carolina awards delegates by winner take all by congressional district. Trump won in all counties except 2 – Richland (Colombia) and Charleston which were both won by Rubio. It remains to be seen how those delegates will be counted. However, Cruz will not receive any delegates.
Hillary Clinton narrowly beat out Bernie Sanders to win the Nevada Caucus. This race was carefully watched after Clinton was shellacked by Sanders in New Hampshire. Clinton is expected to do well in South Carolina in the Democratic primary there next Saturday. The question now is whether this slows the momentum of Sanders who has now eclipsed Clinton in national polling.
In a major find by Buzz Feed’s Andrew Kaczynski, Donald Trump was interviewed by Howard Stern on September 11, 2002 in which Stern asked Trump if the United States should invade Iraq. He answered “Yeah, I guess so,” Trump replied. “I wish the first time it was done correctly.”
Buzz Feed Report and Interview