The same group that claims the Supreme Court ruling in Citizens United was good for electoral democracy – is now 100% supportive of Ted Cruz:

Candidate Donald Trump is holding a campaign rally in Buffalo, NY at the First Niagara Center beginning at 7:00pm EDT:
Live Stream Link – Alternate Live Stream #1 – Alternate Live Stream #2

D.A.P.A or Deferred Action for Parents of Americans and Lawful Permanent Residents program – is the executive action Obama attempted in November of 2014 which was shut down by Federal Judge Andrew Hanen in February ’15 with the issuance of an emergency injunction.

• The DOJ appealed the Hanen injunction, on merit, to the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals and lost.
• The DOJ then appealed the Hanen injunction, on standing, to the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals, and lost again. (Full Backstory) <– Absolutely critical read to understand the scope of what was argued today – includes prior court rulings.

The DOJ filed an appeal with the US Supreme Court. On January 19th, 2016 the U.S. Supreme Court agreed to hear the case.
Today, April 18th, 2016, the court heard oral arguments –full pdf transcript below– decision expected in late June/July.  We bring you the direct source information so you can make up your own mind and don’t need the media’s interpretation.
The 108 page transcript of the 90 minute hearing is a GREAT READ:
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It really is quite stunning to see the voices who support Ted Cruz try and reconcile his prior support for the Trans-Pacific Trade issue.  Their obtuse position is fraught with intellectual dishonesty, and, quite frankly, a necessary head-in-the-sand approach.
We’ve previously outlined the issue HERE.   Senator Cruz supported the legislative trade-passage vehicle of TPA (Trade Promotion Authority) because ultimately the trade bill itself (TPP) benefits Wall Street’s interests.
However, the best way to understand the issue of his support is to actually listen to Ted Cruz explain in 2015 why he supported, then stopped supporting TPA:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eE6HLbaAL0A
You can clearly see, in his own words, Senator Cruz stating he stopped supporting TPA because Senator Mitch McConnell lied to him about buying votes for a later re-authorization of the Import-Export bank, which Ted Cruz does not support.
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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.

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 †

CBS via YouGov has released a series of battleground polls for New York, Pennsylvania and California (full pdf’s below).  Interestingly the polls are not identical questionnaires; instead they appear geographically nuanced, specifically on the Democrat queries.
However, there are some rather interesting trend similarities which are embedding as the campaigns of the three remaining republican candidates take on increased importance:

• The electorate has made up their mind.  There is only about 3% of the electorate who might change their vote.  There will not be any “surging” per se’.
• Donald Trump’s overall appeal is across all demographics and internal ideologies.
• Donald Trump wins with women voters, and higher information political consumers.
• Very Importantly – Trump is seen as most authentic and capable as a political change agent.
• Trump also leads with Hispanic voters in California, and absolutely crushes the competition with the Asian electorate.
• The most important issue in all three states (NY, PA, CA) are jobs/economy. And economic voters are overwhelmingly Trump voters.  (Trump also leads on the alternative issues – second place: security/terrorism)
• Conversely, Ted Cruz is seen as the most “inauthentic” candidate in the race.

NEW YORK

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D.A.P.A or Deferred Action for Parents of Americans and Lawful Permanent Residents program – is the executive action Obama attempted in November of 2014 which was shut down by Federal Judge Andrew Hanen in February ’15 with the issuance of an emergency injunction.

• The DOJ appealed the Hanen injunction, on merit, to the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals and lost.
• The DOJ then appealed the Hanen injunction, on standing, to the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals, and lost again. (Full Backstory)  <– Absolutely critical read to understand the scope of what will be argued tomorrow – includes prior court rulings.

The DOJ filed an appeal with the US Supreme Court.  On January 19th, 2016 the U.S. Supreme Court agreed to hear the case.  The Court will hear oral arguments in the case tomorrow with a decision expected in late June/July – just as the 2016 presidential campaign, in which immigration has already played a major role, really starts to heat up.
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(Nick Bernabe via ANTIMEDIA) Denver, CO — The 2016 election has been a wild ride, with two insurgent grassroots campaigns literally giving the political establishment a run for its money. But as the events of this presidential primary season play out, it’s becoming clear the U.S. election — and even more so, the presidential race — is a big scam being perpetrated on the American people.
Events from the last week have exposed the system as an illusion of choice and a farce. They have reinforced at least one study showing the U.S. is an oligarchy rather than a democratic republic.
The Wyoming democratic caucus took place on Saturday, purportedly to allow voters to have their voices heard in the race between Bernie Sanders and Hillary Clinton. Sanders lost the Wyoming caucus by winning it with a 12 percent margin. (more…)