TED CRUZ LIKE BARRY GOLDWATER...NOT

You can imagine my astonishment when an Arizona newspaper journalist compared Ted Cruz with Barry Goldwater. Now I am a strict left side Progressive but I have tons of respect for Goldwater's style of politics, as well as the man himself. I was even there for his book signing of "Conscience of a Conservative" in Phoenix. And then I read on, it has to do with Goldwater's "crash and burn" presidential bid in 1964. Don't think the writer was portending exactly the same for Cruz but the likeness fits for me. A huge exception with Ted Cruz is Goldwater's hostility toward the religious right. There's more but in the context of this article, the whole thing sounds farcical.

FANATICISM IS INHERENT IN REPUBLICAN GENES

In his blog Robert Reich said, "The Only Way Left to Beat Republican Fanatics: Call Their Bluff and Go Over the Cliff." That was in 2012 when John Boehner couldn't convince the very right House Republicans to raise taxes even on millionaires. He added, "...that fits the fanatic's strategy exactly." In 2013, when Sen. (now Presidential candidate) Ted Cruz was instrumental in literally shutting down the government, one of his fellow Republican Senators in a meeting among several more Senators, including Cruz, said, “It was very evident to everyone in the room that Cruz doesn’t have a strategy – he never had a strategy, and could never answer a question about what the end-game was.” Yet the man still wants to be president.

WHY ARE PROGRESSIVES NON-VOTERS?

A 2007 Study found that non-voters are more economically liberal, preferring Barack over Mitt Romney 59% to 24%. Marginal voters, those affected by weather or election timing, are liberal. Among the 34 million registered to vote in 2010 midterms, 63.1% were Democrats. Liberals do benefit from high voter turnout, which can also be volatile. So, from this should we assume that liberals are lazy couch potatoes afraid of the rain who vote only when they see a crowd collecting at the polls?

MURDER IS MURDER-ABORTION IS...?

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In Exodus, the Bible does say that if you do harm to a woman's baby, “then you shall pay life for life." On the other hand, 70% of the U.S. favors abortions, with many feeling that women's rights today are threatened by ideological extremists in the U.S. Senate. Pro-choice reports that "42% of women who obtain an abortion live below the poverty line. Twenty-seven percent are more than 100% below the poverty line." What about cases of rape, incest or the mother's health? It's reported that the latter three account for just 5% of abortions. But if 95% are purely for birth control...???

NRA USES HIGHER LEARNING TO SELL DEATH

If the NRA and its wacky leader, Wayne LaPierre, have anything to do with it, your kids will be packing heat in the college of their choice. The NRA is currently shoving legislation through in 16 states for this purpose, allowing guns to be carried on campuses. All this while college presidents, students and police chiefs oppose such legislation.

GOV MIKE PENCE SIGNS LAW AGAINST LGBT

Actor George Takei, who is gay, warns Gov. Mike Pence after signing Indiana law that will allow merchants in that state to deny service to the LGBT community. At the same time the NCAA shows concern over the legislation it feels could affect the men's basketball Final Four being played next week. There is also worry it will have an effect on Indiana tourism. As did Arizona for its law on immigration, Indiana deserves whatever it gets.

CAN ELIZABETH WARREN WIN?

It seems there are a lot of people clamoring for Elizabeth Warren to run, including the Boston Globe. But is she as electable as Hillary Clinton? You decide:

Warren supports Israel and sanctions for Iran.

Says terrorism is U.S. #1 responsibility.

On abortion she is pro-choice.

Warren supports passage of DREAM ACT and comprehensive immigration reform.

She supports ban on assault rifles and long magazines, as well as universal background checks, including gun show purchases.

Warren supports Obamacare and same sex marriage.

That should get you started with more information here.