It is funny to watch the Media get the vapours over political dirty tricks..

[annabanana]

There has been significant coverage of the "Ben Carson is dropping out" story, and that it was orchestrated by the Cruz campaign. Carson is complaining, The Donald is in his usual high dudgeon over it.

I can almost understand Carson and Trumps outrage.. The are actual outsiders. The dirty trick (which is as old as the hills in politics) is new to them, The sheer unfairness of it surprises and annoys them. Imagine if they had been subjected to a full-on Rovian ratfuck!

The media, however, has known about this stuff for as long has there has been a media. Politics and Media have been dancing so long together that they both know the steps well. THAT'S why their covering of this rather mild dirty trick is so amusing.

They are shocked, SHOCKED that gambling could have been going on in this establishment.

[Wounded Bear]

1. Spot on....

Plus it makes them appear so moral when they report it....and so competent.

[Journeyman]

2. My favorite is the apocryphal tale of a backwoods politician who warned his constituents. . .

not to vote for is opponent because it was well-known that his brother was a practicing homo sapien and his sister was a thespian in New York.

[underpants]

3. I agree. Cruz just used GOP tactics on the GOP

and none of the political hired guns saw it coming or knew how to respond. Trump's "my people" hardly exist to start with and they appear to be really bad at their jobs.

Cruz's Carson trick was akin to GOP fliers in poor neighborhoods saying that you have to be paid up on ALL utility bills to vote or that Dems vote on Wednesday. The Voter Violation mailers are just caging but without having suits at the polling (caucus) places.

Given the lack of centralization of the various campaigns their nonresponsiveness is a bit understandable. What stands out to me is the lack of communication and planning in each of the campaigns. They didn't hear a word about the mailers before that day? No calls asking what they were about? None of their ops got wind of this? The Carson people, pros or volunteers, had no way to check if their guy had actually dropped out?

[nadinbrzezinski]

4. There were plenty of dirty tricks during the IA caucuses

and we have evidence that plenty was there to go all around.

Oh and to keep to the theme.

Story at 11

[annabanana]

7. ! . . . . .n/t

[NCjack]

5. Ted Cruz refers Ben Carson to the GOP's Guide to Fair Campaigning.

Ben discovers that the word and concept of "fair" are absent in the guide, and he realizes that he is the butt of the Ted's little jokes. Ted kinda "apologizes", turns away, and smirks to his staff that pulled the telcon joke on Ben. Ben accepts Ted's "apology", thereby proving that Ben is too weak to be prez. But, Ted is well qualified to be the 2016 GOP nominee. South Carolina is soon -- will Ted inform the primary voters that Ben is AA? It's his duty, you know, as some GOP voters are legally blind.

[annabanana]

6. AH hahahahahahahahahahahahaha!

very good