Given the current divisive tone amid presidential politics, Andrew Breitbart’s 2012 speech to a divided CPAC audience rings loud:

Radio screamer Mark Levin’s approach at selling his nonsense can be captured within the following quote:

If you make people think they’re thinking, they’ll love you. If you really make them think, they’ll hate you. ~ Don Marquis

Levin’s approach relies on gaslighting an audience into “thinking they’re thinking“.  This was never more clear than today when Mark Levin pens an article calling candidate Donald Trump “A Globalist“, and then assembles a word salad of counter-intuitive arguments to prove a ridiculously false assertion.

However, there is a profound benefit to seeing Mr. Levin completely remove the mask of his crony-constitutional ruse, join arms with Tom Donohue and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, and simultaneously present himself naked to an audience breaking free of battered conservative syndrome.
The basic arguments made by Levin are so ridiculous, they fall directly into the same category as New York Times economist/propaganda-specialist, Paul Krugman.
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The second Trump Rally of the day is taking place in Lynden Washington at the Northwest Washington Fair and Event Center. The event is to begin at 3:00pm PDT / 6:00pm EDT:
Live Stream Link – Alternate Live Stream #1 – Alternate Live Stream #2

Candidate Donald Trump fired a subtle shot toward Hillary Clinton and her traditional constituency today by pointing out some insurgent support amid the Teamsters Union.   The strategy behind this seemingly odd ‘out-of-left-field‘ shot is actually quite brilliant:

As with almost everything Trump messages, the element of uncomfortable truth comes directly to the surface.  Because the inherent disposition of the opponent is to avoid talking truthfully and directly (see: own the downside), the discomfort is directly felt by them.
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Candidate Donald Trump is holding two rallies today in Washington State.  The first in Spokane Washington at the Spokane Convention Center – Exhibit Hall A & B. The event is to begin at 12:00pm PDT / 3:00pm EDT.
Live Stream Link – Alternate Live Stream #1 – Alternate Live Stream #2

Matthew Sheffield brings up a really good point, and asks a great question.
Through May 3rd, 2016:

• 2016: Donald Trump won 40.4% of vote, everyone else 59.6%
• 2012: Mitt Romney won 37.5%, everyone else 62.5%

More people voted against Mitt Romney in ’12, than have voted against Donald Trump in 2016 –Data Here– So why wasn’t there a #NeverRomney movement?

What this reality actually does is destroy the current narrative and prove the #NeverTrump people are nothing more than DC beltway party ideologues and those who make a living from: 1) propping up the UniParty directly, or 2) giving the appearance to stand in opposition to the UniParty.

In an effort to keep the Daily Open Thread a little more open topic we are going to start a new daily thread for “2016 Presidential Politics”. Please use this thread to post anything relating to the Presidential Race and/or any of the candidates therein.

This thread will refresh daily and appear above the Open Discussion Thread.

“Trump gives the people a seat at the negotiating table. It doesn’t mean we’ll always win everything we want, but we at least will have a seat”. ~Twitter Steph

Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy Name. Thy kingdom come. THY WILL BE DONE, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but DELIVER US FROM EVIL.
For Thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory, forever and ever. Amen †

Candidate Donald Trump is holding another rally tonight in Eugene Oregon at Lane Events Convention Center at the Fair. The event is to begin at 7:00pm PDT / 10:00pm EDT:
Live Stream Link – Alternate Live Stream #1 – Alternate Live Stream #2 (<- active first)

Yesterday House Speaker Paul Ryan threw elbows toward the successful insurgent candidacy of Donald Trump by openly stating his refusal to support the presumptive nominee.
From a review of Mr. Trump’s statements in the aftermath of the Ryan commentary it appears no-one, including those closest to Paul Ryan, were anticipating the remarks.  Ryan was essentially stating an opinion that Donald Trump needed to change his positions and come to heel around the perspectives, opinions and policies of Ryan himself.

Obviously the position of Ryan, vis-à-vis demanding Trump acquiesce and rebuke his own platform, is a ridiculous assertion.  However, given the legislative priorities expressed by Speaker Ryan, fundamentally Ryan didn’t have much choice.  Yet the position of Mr. Trump is the stronger hand.  Indeed Donald Trump has campaigned against the entire construct of Ryan’s agenda – and he won.
From the most accurate interpretation of the events that followed Ryan’s remarks, Mr. Trump reached out to RNC Chairman Reince Preibus to state his strong disappointment at being blindsided by Ryan’s statement.   Preibus and Ryan are life-long friends since childhood in Wisconsin.
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