kanesrealm

As always when addressing the healthcare topic I begin with reminding readers there is no such thing as Obamacare. Republicans, most notably Mitt Romney in his 2012 Presidential Campaign dubbed the Affordable Care Act "Obamacare" in an effort to demonize it and turn it into a negative. Obama in a very clever political maneuver embraced it and turned it into a positive. Just a week out from the general election, the news is jam packed with all the headlines that insurance premiums are going up in the A.C.A. insurance exchanges from 22% to 25% or as much as 40% depending on whose figures you use, big discrepancy between 22 and 40, don't you think? Here are some basic facts about the increases, less than one percent of those using the exchanges will face an increase directly from their pocket. For the rest, because they can't afford it, the federal subsidies will pick up that increase. Does that mean the impact on that one percent doesn't matter? Absolutely not. It ...

Look, up in the sky, it's a bird, it's a plane, no, it's Super Tuesday. But if you're a Republican  Presidential candidate it was like a giant bird in the form of a Trump and it shit all over you. Oh, not according to the candidates themselves or the establishments ( whoever they really are) consulting class. Trump creamed his opponents, period. Ted Cruz won his home state of Texas but Trump was a strong second, Cruz did not sweep it at above 50% and he should have. Cruz squeaked a win in Oklahoma and the Alaska Caucus, so at least he won something. Marco Rubio has had no wins but consistently delivers victory speeches after every race, he has turned nothing around in his campaign. Late last night Rubio won the Minnesota Caucus, so hey, good job Marco. Now he has all his eggs in the Florida basket, that was Rudy Giuliani's strategy in 2008, it failed. True, Rubio is a Senator from Florida but he is not exactly popular right now, in fact Trump is currently 20 points...

The first rule of politics is never underestimate your opponent. Every Republican candidate did this concerning Donald Trump. Not one of them took him on aggressively from day one. The presumptive nominee, Jeb Bush, allowed Trump to define him as a low energy clueless dolt for weeks before attempting what repeatedly was a weak counterattack. The rest of them ducked for cover hoping not to be a target. Trump chose Bush as his first victim because he knew that strategically he had to dispatch him quickly. Trump has repeated this pattern each time a new person rose in the ranks. But still the field failed to take his candidacy seriously. Donald Trump has been threatening to run for President since 1996. The Republican Party in theory should have a massive oppo research file on him but they don't. The reason is as simple as underestimating him and also repeatedly going to him for political donations. Like any smart businessman he has spread the wealth over both major parties and indiv...

Last night the remaining five Republicans debated on CNN live from Houston, Texas. I wouldn't exactly call it an exercise in intellectual engagement but more of a National Geographic special, "when animals attack." Like a pair of rabid dogs Marco Rubio and Ted Cruz tried to double team and take down the lion, Donald Trump. Like all rabid dogs they can't be trusted and also bit each other. Contrary to the analysis of some pundits who are so afraid of a Trump victory, he was not harmed by the lesser jackals on stage. He proved without question that he can take a punch. It continues to amaze me how so many "experts" who are immersed in politics everyday still don't get the Trump phenomenon. He doesn't have to provide details about his policies. His supporters don't care about Trump University, undocumented workers building Trump Towers or being fined forty years ago for using Polish workers. No one, including me, cares about his tax returns. If Ru...

When last we metaphorically met Jeb Bush was plotting his long-term plans to take the nomination through a strong showing in South Carolina. He dropped out within a few hours of the polls closing. It couldn't have been an easy decision but it was the right decision, the man who would be king finally realized it was never going to happen. Ben Carson finished in an even weaker position and he has failed to catch fire in anyway in any of the contests so far. Here's the big reveal, he never will. He too should have already dropped out but he just can't bring himself to end his vanity campaign. Perhaps he thinks he can be a Vice-Presidential contender but that too is not going to happen. He wouldn't bring anything of value to the ticket. John Kasich is simply never going to build the enthusiasm necessary to succeed. He will be irrelevant, if not gone, after Super Tuesday. Ted Cruz came in third in South Carolina, proving that his alleged strength with evangelicals is not...

I watched the ABC Republican Debate on Saturday night, unfortunately until they get down to two or three candidates left standing on the stage it's just not informative. It was fun to watch Chris Christie rip Marco Rubio to shreds. More interesting is to see that Rubio really does come across as a pod person. He is so programmed with his answers that they are not answers. It's one thing to be disciplined and stick to your message, it's quite another to appear incapable of thinking on your feet. I stand by my own analysis in contradiction to the talking heads prior to that debate, Rubio is not going to be the nominee and he will fizzle. New Hampshire votes tomorrow and I know you're on pins and needles waiting for my predictions. So it's game on. For the Republicans the order will be 1. Trump 2.Kasich 3. Bush 4.Rubio 5. Cruz. Now watch closely because Kasich is going to be within 5 points of Trump. If Republican primary voters going forward were thinking strategica...

The Republican field is dwindling. Today Rand Paul and Rick Santorum dropped out. Santorum has now endorsed Rubio so that should settle everything, game over man. I would have preferred Paul stay in and Carson drop out but we don't always get what we want. Chris Christie is attacking Marco Rubio with the veracity of a Great White Shark chomping a bloody stump. Christie actually believes he has a chance of being the antidote to take out Trump and Cruz. He just doesn't want to face that his time came and went four years ago. The citizens of New Jersey despise him and he had to be goaded into returning there during the recent major winter storms. He's an obnoxious loudmouth who never left his bullyboy persona back in the sandbox. He is clearly auditioning to be the Vice-presidential pick. Every campaign needs a pit bull and it fits him like a glove. Think about it, he's going to need a job. He cannot run for governor again and wouldn't win if he could and they'll...

You know how when you're at the supermarket you see that mass produced coffee cake, it looks good so against your better judgment you buy it. Afterwards you feel vaguely unsatisfied, even a bit queasy. Kind of like the Iowa Caucuses. Thankfully it's behind us now but I wonder how many Iowans have buyer's remorse this morning? The good news is I pretty much nailed it on the outcome, so good for me. This is clear evidence of my political brilliance. Of course I could have been wrong but it wouldn't have been a reflection on my analysis but rather the fault of bad data. The surprise of the night is Marco Rubio coming in at a strong number three, close to Donald Trump's number two. Those high numbers will get Rubio second and third looks in New Hampshire. Hillary Clinton was declared the apparent winner at 4:00A.M. At the time I'm writing the word "apparent" hangs in the air. It's the closest Democratic race in the history of the Iowa Caucuses which...

It's finally here, the greatest spectacle in American politics begins tomorrow. The Iowa Caucuses will officially start the real battle for the Presidency. For the first time the voters true voices will be heard. Who will the victors be? On November 30, 2015 I posted my predictions. So you don't have to search for them, for the Republicans it was 1. Cruz 2. Carson and 3. Trump. At the time I felt pretty confident about that lineup but things change quickly in politics and Carson has fallen dramatically, so much so he may not even be in the top three. Ted Cruz has the best ground organization in Iowa of all the Republicans. At the start of his campaign he brought in 500 volunteers from Texas. He leased dorms at an abandoned college to house them. I still believe he has the strength to finish strong but he may very well be at number two with Donald Trump taking the prize. I'm not convinced that Rubio is the rising candidate that so many pundits talk about. For the Democrats...

Are you tired of the lingering stench of the political seasons debates? New from Kanesrealm's R&D labs in Hindtit, Indiana comes Debate Begone®, it's a huge aerosol can available in pine, lavender and mixed nuts. Simply spray a thick fog, then sit back and think of something else. You may be looking for analysis of last night's Republican Debate on FOX Business, what's that, you couldn't find that channel, don't worry neither can Rupert Murdoch. The debates are completely meaningless at this point and frankly are making me nauseous. My cable provider doesn't carry FOX Business, is it really a channel? I saw enough of the highlights to know it had  zero content of insightful information. It continued to confirm that Donald Trump is HUGE and Ben Carson knows nothing about foreign policy or economics. Speaking of Carson it amazes me how pundits so often refer to him as this nice soft spoken man who is pious. Ben Carson's ego is bigger than Donald Tru...

Keeping in line with the rapidly changing relationship between the U.S. and Cuba, the two countries will officially reopen embassies. Cuba will certainly have an Ambassador here but Presidential hopeful Marco Rubio says he intends to fight the appointment of a U.S. Ambassador to Cuba. Don't you have better things to do Senator Rubio? Oh, I get it, you're staging a political stunt to get attention for your campaign, carry on. Better hurry and get organized before Ted Cruz figures it out. This story is a giant snooze and opponents of this latest development have no justification for opposition. I understand the personal stories of those who lost everything in their homeland because of Fidel Castro and I would hate him and his brother till my dying day. But that has nothing to do with affairs of state. The embargo remains in place, only Congress can lift it and it should lift it. It hasn't mattered for decades. The reasons for it to begin with are completely understandable. ...

The silly season is here and again I say, our election cycles are too long. We are being subjected to a duality of extremes about money and personal finances. Senator Marco Rubio is the target of stories by the New York Times and others concerning his debts and lack of savings. You heard me right, they're criticizing the guy's rate of savings. His choice of leased car and buying a speedboat are also under the microscope. We're told that Mitt Romney's team flagged these financial difficulties when they vetted him in 2012 as a potential running mate. Really? Who the hell cares? We mere mortals have debts and sometimes we buy stupid shit, nobody cares. Are you listening media whores? Write something of interest, like oh I don't know, maybe what his political platform is. Senator Rubio and I have many political disagreements but I have zero interest in this trivial crap, leave it alone. Now to the opposite end of the spectrum. Hillary Clinton has made millions giving ...

The junior Senator from Florida, Marco Rubio, has entered the race to be the Republican Presidential nominee in 2016. The announcement was a pretty standard event complete with second generation makes good in America. He should be proud of his parents and he should be proud of himself but now he wants to be President. He spoke about his fears that his very young children wouldn't have the America they deserve if things don't change. Ah yes, that whole change thing. Here's the problem, that thing you worry about your children not having is already the reality. At 43 Senator Rubio already occupies an age group that in real economic terms has not done better than the previous generation. The Senator himself may be doing well but a large percentage of the population is not. Senator Rubio opposes equal pay for equal work, opposes raising the minimum wage and caved to his conservative colleagues on immigration reform. These are just a few of the things that make you wonder wha...

Here's a post you can file under not gonna happen. President Obama was addressing a group of young people and encouraging people to vote. Agreed. The topic of requiring by law all eligible citizens to vote came up. He said it was doubtful that could happen and again kept encouraging voting. There are countries which require, by law, all citizens to vote, most notably Australia. Let's not pretend here, that law will never be proposed, let along enacted in the U.S. The two dominant parties would never touch such a thing. It also falls under the heading of be careful what you wish for. Based on my observation people can be quite bizarre in the way they vote. Marco Rubio became a part of this story by stating not voting was also a choice. Okay,not sure why that needed to be said but whatever. He then said people should vote. Okay, again not sure how this became a thing. I've always voted. I've always said go vote, be greatful you have that right. Statistically minoriti...