Big News.....Donald Trump cancels appearance at CPAC!

No kidding,  this was big news on Twitter and media outlets.

CPAC, the acronym for 'Conservative Political Action Conference' is
the annual conference of the American Conservative Union whose
purpose is to "educate voters, office-holders and opinion leaders as 
to why conservative principles work better to solve problems". 

CPAC's annual conference objective is to "combine ideas with action 
to leverage the strength of thousands of  grass-roots  activists to 
break through the resistance of  Washington’s  powerful elites."

Most Americans never even heard of CPAC, yet  this group believes
its work is essential to promote conservative principles.

In solid conservative circles CPAC is a big deal and a place for politicians
to go to display their conservative credentials with their eyes on the
next election.

Yet, these very same politicians seem to forget what they had said at
CPAC  as soon as they return to their Washington office.  Then its
business as usual, abandoning  the intent of the conference to
 "break through resistance of  Washington’s powerful 
elites", and become complicit with everything wrong!

And, no matter how laudable  CPAC's mission is, the success of this
conference is minimal, "more sizzle than steak" , when put in contrast
with how the national capital operates.

The faceless and nameless "establishment" governs us, while CPAC's
influence is often nonexistent. The corrosive atmosphere Washington
operates in destroys any effort to bring principled governance to the
American people.

Consider members of this establishment; donors, lobbyists, influence
peddlers. Are there fewer of them because of the efforts of CPAC?  Have
out of control regulators been reigned in?  Have any federal agencies
been either reduced or eliminated?

None of this has occurred because CPAC does not have the political
muscle to change Washington.  It is merely a fly which must periodically
be offered a cube of sugar or  shooed away when it becomes annoying.

Nothing offered by CPAC comes to fruition.  The status quo remains
alive and well. This is not an indictment, merely an observation of how
most politicians use CPAC to promote themselves,  not commit to
govern using conservative principles.

While the media make Donal Trump cancelling his appearance a story,
its inconsequential!  Whether he appears or not won't make a bit of
difference, governance tomorrow will be as it is today.

End of story....

email ajbruno14  gmail...welcome to retweet or pass along to others

A bit of irony in Salt Lake City

WOW!   Was this the same Mitt Romney who refused to come out
for the 2nd "round" against Pres. Obama after he won the 1st debate!

In a speech today at the Univ. of Utah Romney delivered "body blows"
to weaken Donald Trump, setting him up to be knocked out  by Marco
Rubio, the pretender to the Republican throne.

Will it work? I don't know.

But, there one thing which struck me, the venue Romney spoke at,
the Hinckley Institute, which offers a bit of sad irony.

You may recall it was John Hinckley who attempted to assassinate
President Reagan barely two months into his administration in 1981.

Will the Republican establishment be able to "assassinate" Trump's
chances to be our next president.  Time will tell.

"All Hands On Deck"

"All Hands On Deck"

​This is the rallying cry from the Republican establishment to get its
troops aligned to end Donald Trump's candidacy. The latest recruit
is Mitt Romney.

It did not take "thirty pieces of silver" for Romney to betray the
electorate and launch an attack on Trump, the same Trump Romney
praised for his business success, the same Trump whose check
Romney cashed when running in 2012!

All it took was a call from the Republican leadership.

What Romney is doing has been tried for many months, refuse to
accept the will of the  electorate.  The GOP has intimated the people
do not matter, and the party knows best.

We could be seeing  a replay of the 1968 Democrat convention which
brought back to life Richard Nixon whose expansion of govt. had not
been seen  since FDR!

If this is the thinking then the entire Republican primary is a fraudulent
as the Democrats with one distinction, the GOP coronation is not limited
to a single candidate, only to those who pass the Republican litmus test!

An open email to my conservative friends

Whenever I learned something from the Republican primaries I offered 
my arm chair analysis via email or twitter. But, not at any time do I recall

suggesting I supported a particular candidate, only offer pluses and

minuses on some candidates running.

However, I received criticism from some friends who couldn't believe
I supported Donald Trump, most coming from ardent Cruz supporters.

And, I also found it interesting many other friends across the miles, 
even strong conservatives, replied they support Trump, which I found
telling, Trump does connect with some conservatives!

Many in the media refuse to look towards the electorate that has given 

Trump more primary victories than anyone else. They look at labels first,

rather then seek reasons WHY so many people with different backgrounds

from different regions of the country come to his rallies and support him.

I must pause to say once again, this is NOT an endorsement!

Political labels need to be cast aside, especially in the Republican Party.

The electorate are Americans who care about important issues, and
should not be treated as "beans" counted separately by the media on their 
faith, race, gender and politics.

One thing I would suggest to the other candidates, take a cue from Trump
and offer people attending rallys a message they can 'visualize" as Trump
supporters do when they hear about the "wall" and "Ford" going to Mexico!

Attacks don't work when people want solutions. 

Ted Cruz would make an outstanding president for our country. But, could
Cruz be a stronger candidate then Trump? In candor, I don't think he would. 
His message is an important one, but does not have broad appeal without 
delving into WHY it is.

This is why Cruz is a difficult sell. Trump was an "acquired taste" when he began, 
but he now offers simply understood solutions middle America appreciates.

It has broad appeal except to Republican power brokers and ardent supporters

of other candidates.

To those who see Trump as "dangerous" be open minded. Some believe 
Cruz is equally dangerous! I don't believe either man is, but I am concerned
that other than either Trump or Cruz anyone else would not make the changes needed to strengthen our country.

Regards,
Anthony Bruno
ajbruno14 gmail

The voters "have to understand"...really?

​This morning in the post Super Tuesday political discussion

the talk was about the dominance of Donald Trump.

The collective wisdom agreed other presidents arrived in

Washington thinking they could overpower Congress alluding

that Trump implied he would.  Trump never said this, yet 

its the narrative the media want the public to believe.

They panel went on to say past presidents found that it

was a formidable task and Congress could not be bullied. 

Again,an inference Trump would not fair well.

In the discussion I was struck by a comment made by Tom Brokaw, 

retired NBC news anchor who frequently appears to offer his

opinion. Guess Brokaw is the "new anchor emeritus" for NBC.

Brokaw said "the voter have to understand" that no president

can do what they expect. While this may be true, consider the

deeper meaning of what he said.

 

Apparently, Brokaw, who hails from South Dakota, should visit

his home state more often.

Its the people we elect that must "understand", not us! They

are in OUR employ!​

No wonder American governance appears upside down.

Thanks to Tom Brokaw for the reminder!

Just what the Republican Party needed, but not to some!

Super Tuesday was really "super" for the Republican Party and
provided a long missing shot in the arm for the party of Lincoln.

Turnout was "amazing", an often coined word by Donald Trump

the leader in the primaries, much higher than 2008 and 2012!

The breakdown showed a broad cross section of the electorate,

which the party was starving for and neither of the last two

nominees could deliver.

Trump is well ahead of of his closest competitors, assuring the
party would not have a bloody battle at the GOP convention.

So, the looming question, what's not to like?

Unfortunately, Donald Trump is not the person the Republican
power brokers want to be the nominee, he isn't the model
they desire. Their preference is the same one that could not
be sold the last two elections, yet party leaders insist can be
sold now.

The establishment choice, another Bush, never got on track
Voters  knew yesterday's candidate cannot fix today's problems.

Yet the power brokers in and out of govt. continue to dismiss
the desires of the electorate. They refuse to accept their votes
have more power than donors' dollars!

This resistance to change could be the catalyst that ends the
reign of the party's ruling class.

Trump, a political neophyte, is schooling politicians at their own
game, delivering what Republican leadership always promise, yet
is still criticized as not being legitimate!

Republican leadership continues to believe all it takes is a platform
that states it believes in a "limited conservative governance" to win
over the electorate that they believe are a nuisance at best.

Donald Trump, the billionaire, is doing what millionaires in Washington
are unable to do,looking average Americans in the eye and offering a
convincing argument he is the best person to be our next president.

Yet, for almost a year, no matter the level of his success, Trump has
been under attack, first as not qualified, then as an embarrassment.

But, nothing stopped his forward surge, he continues to play offense,
refusing to allow his opponents to even touch the "ball", allowing him
to score one touchdown after another.

His bombast has caused "kinder and gentler" and "compassionate"
conservatives to be embarrassed. His attack on status quo politics
worries the people who benefit from a dysfunctional system the steals
from the American people and keeps the well heeled, well off.

Trump's run at the presidency may be the best news for the Republican
Party since Reagan was elected.

If Donald Trump can bring down Washington corruption as Reagan brought
down the Soviet Union we can thank the wisdom of the electorate not the
politicians working so hard to defeat him.

The difference between a car salesman and politician

Why do politicians attack their opponents when they fall in the polls?

Do they actually believe they can change public sentiment? Or, is it
really an act of desperation as their message isn't selling?

No matter, this type of campaign is what is expected even if would
be wiser to promote a positive message and leave negative attacks in
the garbage can where they should stay.

If politicians really want to see how to win over voters they should
drive by any auto mall on a weekend and observe salesmen as they hover
in parking lots waiting for people to come in, approach prospective
customers, and bring them to the models of choice.

You will not see a salesman point to a competitor's lot and bring
attention to another brand. This has no upside.

The salesman has the customer's attention and the last thing he wants is
have him even think of another brand. The prospect probably knows enough
not to visit the competitor.

Its best politicians create the strongest, positive and most convincing
message and sell it. If it fails, he should go back to the drawing board
and develop a better one.

It should be the rarest of occasions to use negativity which disrespects
opponents. The electorate deserves better.