From Clay Jones on his political cartoon “Losing With Grace,” the Wisconsin primary, and big news about John Kasich … just kidding
Ted Cruz and Bernie Sanders won their respective primaries in Wisconsin. They each won by healthy margins. Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump both responded to their losses. Not sure if John Kasich made a statement, but he’s not important anymore anyway, so nobody cares.
Clinton sent out a statement congratulating Sanders while still touting her lead. Candidates do that. They keep hope alive with their supporters.
Donald Trump issued a statement also. His was less than cordial:
“Donald J. Trump withstood the onslaught of the establishment yet again. “Lyin’ Ted Cruz had the Governor of Wisconsin, many conservative talk radio show hosts, and the entire party apparatus behind him. Not only was he propelled by the anti-Trump Super PAC’s spending countless millions of dollars on false advertising against Mr. Trump, but he was coordinating with his own Super PAC’s (which is illegal) who totally control him. Ted Cruz is worse than a puppet— he is a Trojan horse, being used by the party bosses attempting to steal the nomination away from Mr. Trump. We have total confidence that Mr. Trump will go on to win in New York, where he holds a substantial lead in all the polls, and beyond.”
Yes, I’m surprised as you. Trump knows the big word “apparatus.”
There’s many things wrong with his statement. First he starts by bragging about himself. Then he goes into “Lyin’ Ted.” Classy. Then he accuses the guy of violating election laws before he goes back to calling him a name again, “Trojan horse.” But you know what? He’s not entirely wrong.
The establishment is backing Cruz, the candidate who once billed himself as anti-establishment. Of course, he also insulted all of New York, and he’s now in that state groveling for votes and trying to sell that his “New York values” comment meant something other than an attack on all New Yorkers (or Jews).
The establishment, talk radio guys, and the entire party’s “apparatus” are backing Cruz and trying to prevent Trump from acquiring the number of delegates he needs to secure the nomination. They don’t care if Cruz gets the delegates needed (and they probably don’t want him to either. They’re pretty confidant he can’t). The mission is to stop Trump, and that’s it. When the convention rolls around, they will toss Cruz aside. Ted Cruz does not know this yet as the man is not humble and is oblivious to obvious things.
I don’t expect Trump, Cruz, or even Kasich (snicker) to be the Republican nominee. They will recruit Paul Ryan, who insists he doesn’t want it like he insisted he didn’t want to be Speaker of the House.
That may not come true, but I have another prediction where I’m very confidant: The next two weeks with the candidates battling in New York, the center of the media universe, is going to be a total blast for me. I wish I were there.
claytoonz.com/2016/04/07/losing-with-grace