How Ted Cruz may benefit from Rand Paul dropping out

Rand Paul suspending presidential campaign

This post has been updated.

HENNIKER, N.H. For months, Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Tex.) has tried to poach libertarian-leaning voters here away from Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.). Now, with Paul"s exit from the race, Cruz has even moreof an opening to make inroads with supporters of the Kentucky Republican.

Cruz is running as a tea-party darling and evangelical Christian, constituencies that helped propel him to victory in the Iowa caucuses. But he is also attempting to expand that base, particularly with libertarian-leaning supporters. Here in New Hampshire, Cruz speaks of limited government, gun rights and privacy.

"But part of the reason were more competitive in New Hampshire than a typical conservative is weve got enough support on the libertarian side that it backfills. Thats fairly unusual," Cruz told reporters on his plane as it traveled from a rally in Greenville, S.C., to Manchester, N.H. "Right now were second. It will be interesting to see how Iowa impacts New Hampshire."

The Texas Republican has also been reminding Granite Statersthat they voted for Ronald Reagan in 1980 in an attempt to sway libertarian-leaning supporters. At a town hall meeting here, Cruz told a skeptical crowd that the state chose Reagan despite the "media saying this guy is too far to the right, hes too conservative," and far behind in the polls.

The Iowa caucus winner said he believes that his strength lies in the breadth of supporters his message can attract.

The outreach to supporters of Paul and his father, Ron, has been meticulous. Cruz dispatched aides earlier this year to meet with activists here, telling them that Paul was floundering and Cruz viable and flush with cash. The Texas Republican crashed what was supposed to be a big libertarian party for Paul in October at the biennial meeting of the Republican Liberty Caucus, where he told the group that he "loves" Paul. Cruz feels that many of those supporters are flocking to his campaign.

[As Rand Paul stalls, Ted Cruz seeks to pick up support among libertarians]

Cruz tells crowds here that he co-sponsored Ron Paul"s "Audit the Fed" bill, invokes the Fourth Amendment, a favorite of Paul, and discusses eminent domain, a contentious subject in much of this state.

[How an obscure legal issue has found its way into the GOP race]

New England, he said, was founded as a new land, where people "weremeant to be free, not have the government dictate our fight."

At a stop in Goffstown, N.H., Cruz said he is "encouraged" by the number of supporters he has from the liberty movement and urged those who supported Paul to come to his campaign.

"Let me say to you and everyone with Rand in the liberty movement: I very much hope I can earn your support. I am asking for your support," Cruz said to Ryan Miner, a partner at a Maryland advertising firm who came here to support Paul and is now looking for another candidate.

Cruz made the pitch.

"I can tell you this: I have spent literally my entire adult life fighting to defend the Constitution. It has been my lifelong commitment," Cruz said.

Milner said Cruz"s entreaty was "average, compelling and staged."Miner said he remains undecided, but is "open" to Cruz.

"I"m candidate shopping," Milner said. "Sen. Cruz hasn"t made the pitch to libertarians like myself on civil asset forfeiture and criminal justice reform."

Leah Wolzcko of Goffstown is a Paul supporter who said she hasn"t yet decided if she can support Cruz - she thinks he is too militaristic with his pledges to "carpet bomb" the Islamic State. She wrote in Paul"s father, Ron, for president in the general election in 2012 but wants to see libertarians consolidate around one candidate this time.

"You"re attractive," she said to Cruz at a stop in Goffstown. The audience laughed.

"Well, thank you," Cruz, laughing, said.

"Intellectually," Wolzcko said.

Katie Zezima is a national political correspondent covering the 2016 presidential election. She previously served as a White House correspondent for The Post.

Source: http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=t&fd=R&ct2=us&usg=AFQjCNFVBG8Bz0G6FEGnVCDv9vD7vxQztw&clid=c3a7d30bb8a4878e06b80cf16b898331&cid=52779041185457&ei=eFazVtDbOobN3gGatqCgDw&url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/post-politics/wp/2016/02/03/how-ted-cruz-may-benefit-from-rand-paul-dropping-out/

Continue Reading ..

Rashan Gary picks Michigan football: "A day of excitement, a day of joy"

2016 Michigan Football: Dignity Restored

ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- Denard Robinson was there as an NFL player and as a Michigan graduate. So was New York Yankees great Derek Jeter. New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady, too.

Former Notre Dame football coach Lou Holtz, singer Mayer Hawthorne and WWE superstar Ric Flair were also in attendance -- to welcome the Michigan football program"s incoming freshman class for 2016.

Michigan introduced its freshman class of 2016 in a unique, star-studded and unprecedented fashion: the "Signing of the Stars," Wednesday at Michigan"s Hill Auditorium, produced in conjunction with The Players" Tribune, a new media outlet founded by Jeter.

"A day of excitement, a day of joy," Wolverines head coach Jim Harbaugh said. "That"s what we want this to be."

Or, as master of ceremonies and comedian Randy Sklar called it, "one big welcoming party." And Sklar made a joke about one of Harbaugh"s more noted recruiting visits, a sleepover at a recruit"s house.

"I was supposed to be at USC," Sklar said. "Harbaugh found out, slept over at my house. Climbed a tree, took his shirt off ... and he flipped me."

Michigan expects to have an incoming class of up to 29 scholarship signees, and two committed Wednesday morning, when Lavert Hill, a cornerback from Detroit"s King High School, and Quinn Nordin, a kicker from Rockford, Mich., announced they would go to Michigan.

The big fish came towards the end of the signing day celebration, when Rashan Gary, the nation"s top-rated recruit, announced on ESPN that he would attend Michigan.

"We got some really good news backstage," Harbaugh told the capacity crowd at Hill Auditorium.

Coaches are not allowed to comment on recruits until after receipt of their national letters of intent, per NCAA rules. However, Harbaugh could not comment when asked if he had received Gary"s national letter of intent after the signing show.

"We are so excited about all of our signees," Harbaugh said. "We are tremendously happy. From top to bottom, this recruiting class, the youngsters have a real heart for competing, a heart for football, they have football faces, they"re competitive in the classroom and as we said before, they have worked so hard to put themselves in a position to be here."

None of the recruits in attendance expected that level of hype surrounding Wednesday"s signing day extravaganza.

"I was not expecting this," said Brandon Peters, a quarterback from Avon, Ind. "When I stepped into the auditorium and kind of looked around at all the people, it was just kind of breathtaking. It"s just an awesome experience."

Harbaugh also said when the Wolverines begin spring practices, they will spend a week at IMG Academy in Florida.

Source: http://www.upi.com/Sports_News/2016/02/03/Rashan-Gary-picks-Michigan-football-A-day-of-excitement-a-day-of-joy/9451454533400/

Continue Reading ..

Tide win another recruiting title

天兵Rivals【Minecraft】：天兵VS機甲天兵

Alabama had a five-star finish and won another Rivals.com team recruiting rankings title.

This is getting old.

The Crimson Tide landed five-star linebackers Ben Davis and Lyndell Wilson, plus five-star defensive end Terrell Hall along with some other four-star recruits to propel them to their seventh Rivals.com recruiting rankings title in the past nine cycles.

They didnt get everybody they wanted, which people think Alabama always does, but they closed very strong, Rivals.com National Recruiting Director Mike Farrell said. We expected that to happen. We knew those in-state linebackers were going to go, we had the assumption theyd be able to get Terrell Hall, although Maryland gave them a good fight on that one.

Add those guys to players they got these last few days like Nigel Knott, they got Jared Mayden on Signing Day, Shyheim Carter as expected. I wasnt really surprised by anything. The amazing thing about Alabama is theyre still No. 1 and they whiffed on some guys they really wanted like A.J. Brown and Jeffery Simmons.

Even when Bama strikes out, theyre still able to put together the best class in the country and there is really no argument because the star rankings bear it out as well. Their average star ranking is No. 1, their class is No. 1 and thats the barometer to use.

Alabama has five five-stars signed, more than any other team, and that was a major reason why the Crimson Tide moved past Florida State (second) and Ohio State, which started National Signing Day in first place. Clemson and LSU rounded out the top five in the team recruiting rankings.

The Crimson Tide did not get every single recruit they chased, but they got plenty of the top prospects and thats why they moved to No. 1 again.

Alabama closed extremely strong. They missed on a few guys at the end, but they got the majority of their top remaining targets. They cleared some space at the end to ensure they were able to get those guys in the class and thats what happened," said Andrew Bone of TideSports.com. "Inside and outside linebacker were important positions for Alabama in this class and getting Davis, Wilson and also Terrell Hall, who they recruited as a pass-rushing specialist, those were three really big gets for Alabama.

The correlation between team recruiting rankings and national titles is hard to argue against. Facts are facts.

Alabama has won seven of the last nine recruiting titles. The Crimson Tide has also won four of the last seven national championships.

With another phenomenal class on board, Roll Tide just keeps rolling.

Four of seven national championships and seven of nine team recruiting titles perfectly fits together, Farrell said.

People think being No. 1 doesnt matter. They should go back and look at Texas in 2002, LSU in 2003, USC, Florida, the Alabama dynasty. Recruiting team rankings equal national championships, bottom line.

For more Alabama coverage, visit TideSports.com.

Source: http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=t&fd=R&ct2=us&usg=AFQjCNHUUpnpXbu8uu90xqzHEmve51gy0Q&clid=c3a7d30bb8a4878e06b80cf16b898331&cid=52779039983491&ei=a0SzVoDTDobN3gGatqCgDw&url=https://n.rivals.com/news/tide-win-another-recruiting-title

Continue Reading ..

What"s On Tonight: Richard Dreyfuss Is Bernie Madoff And The "It"s Always Sunny" Gang Is Rockin" The Suburbs

The Madoff Hustle - Part 1

abc

Madoff(ABC, 8 p.m.) Richard Dreyfuss stars as the Michael Jordan of Ponzi schemes in this two-part made for TV special.

Its Always Sunny in Philadelphia(FXX, 10 p.m.)Somebody call Ben Folds because Mac and Dennis are rockin the suburbs in search of cheap rent.

Suits(USA, 10 p.m.) Harvey is back on his own turf, but gets a kick in the pants courtesy of guest star Leslie Hope. Mike tries to smoke out the rat that snitched to start the Justice Departments investigation.

Arrow(The CW, 8 p.m.) Tom Amandes guest stars as a villain named The Calculator. If hes anything short of an actual anthropomorphized calculator, we riot.

American Idol(FOX, 8 p.m.) Hollywood, Round 3.

2 Broke Girls(CBS, 8 p.m.) Max reconnects with an old friend, so Caroline overcompensates and falls in with a rough crowd in an effort to make her jealous.

Mike & Molly(CBS, 8:30 p.m.) Mollys super thrilled to learn that Victoria gets the house if Joyce croaks.

Supernatural(The CW, 9 p.m.) The guys dont know what to believe when Clair cries monster and may or may not be connected to a bunch of supernatural murders.

Law & Order: SVU (NBC, 9 p.m.) A woman is followed home an assaulted in front of a gaggle of witnesses who do nothing to help. See something, say something, you guys.

American Crime(ABC, 10 p.m.) They say you shouldnt discuss s*x, religion and politics, so its safe to say that things get a little dicey when Anne learns that her son is gay and an incident at Marshall High might have been racially motivated.

Man Seeking Woman(FXX, 10:30 p.m.) Josh agonizes over a professional decision because hes more work hard than play hard at the moment.

Late Night Guests

The Late Show With Stephen ColbertDr. Phil, the Duplass brothers, Michael Eric Dyson and Anderson Paak & The Free Nationals

ConanJosh Brolin, Tom Segura and Cage the Elephant

The Late Late Show With James Corden Rosie ODonnell, Nikki Glaser and the winner of MasterChef Jr.

The Daily ShowHannibal Buress

The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy FallonMartin Scorsese, Gillian Jacobs and The Chainsmokers

Jimmy Kimmel Live Channing Tatum, Regina King and Kopecky

Late Night With Seth MeyersAlan c*****g, Matt Harvey and Alexander Chee

Source: http://uproxx.com/tv/whats-on-tonight-richard-dreyfuss-is-bernie-madoff-and-the-its-always-sunny-gang-is-rockin-the-suburbs/

Continue Reading ..

It"s Groundhog Day 2016: Best way to celebrate? Watch the movie

USA: Punxsutawney Phil predicts an early spring on Groundhog Day

Editor"s note: The following oped originally appeared in Fox News Opinion on April 24, 2014.

Inmy new book "The Curmudgeons Guide to Getting Ahead: Dos and Don"ts of Right Behavior, Tough Thinking, Clear Writing, and Living a Good Life," I advise my twenty-something readers to watch the 1993 movie,"Groundhog Day," not just once but repeatedly.

I even tell them to substitute"Groundhog Day" for studying Aristotles"Nichomachean Ethics."

All of which raises the question: What have I been smoking?

First, for those who havent seen it, the plot: An egocentric TV weatherman, Phil Connors (Bill Murray) is sent to Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania, to cover Groundhog Day. He hates the assignment, disdains the town and its people, and cant wait to get back to Pittsburgh. But a snowstorm strikes, hes stuck in Punxsutawney, and when he wakes up the next morning, it is Groundhog Day again. And again and again and again. The films director and co-writer, the late Harold Ramis, estimated that the movie represented at least thirty or forty years worth of days.

Here are some scenes illustrating the unplanned and bumpy trajectory that Phils thirty or forty years takes:

Jejeune hedonismPhil surrounded by every dessert on the menu at the local caf, eating his way through them, knowing that 10,000 calories or so will have no consequences the next morning.

Exploiting his situation to ratchet up the hedonismPhil asking an attractive woman the name of her high school English teacher during one iteration of Groundhog Day to use as an introduction for seducing her (I was in your in high school English class!) during the next iteration.

Reaching the limits of hedonismPhil entering a movie theatre, with a bimbo girlfriend dressed in a skimpy French maids outfit, himself dressed as an Argentinian Goucho, whip in hand, bored stiff.

Wretched and suicidalPhil trying to kill himself in increasingly violent ways, only to wake up each time, unharmed, at6:00 AMon Groundhog Day.

The eternal meaningless lifeCondemned to remain alive, Phil spends all day every day for six months throwing cards into a hat, and gets quite good at it.

The first tendrils of a human connectionPhil repeatedly tries to seduce his TV producer, Rita Hanson (Andie MacDowell), and gets very close, but he still doesnt know how to really love another person.

The crisisPhil tries to repeat one happy night with Rita by manipulating it, still intent on getting her to bed, and it ends in despair.

After that.You have to see it for yourself.Some people have argued that"Groundhog Day"recapitulates the Kbler-Ross stages of dying, and the final part of the movie represents the fifth stage, acceptance.

I think something closer Aristotles view of human happiness is at work, as Phil sets out to put meaning in his life even though he has just one day to work withbecoming an accomplished pianist and ice sculptor, among other things, burrowing deep into the lives of the people of Punxatawney, and acquiring the Aristotelian virtues. In the course of this process he also falls deeply in love with Rita and, finally, she with him, which breaks the spell.

Im afraid this exercise is proof that you cant dissect a soufflthe description of the episodes I just gave you makes"Groundhog Day"sound far too somber.

It isnt. It is laugh-out-loud funny, wickedly smart, and the happy ending is just thatinspiritingly happy. But underlying it are profoundly important truths about the life well- lived. So take my advice, even if you arent a twenty-something. Watch it. Repeatedly.

Charles Murray is a W.H. Brady Scholar at the American Enterprise Institute. He is most recently the author of "TheCurmudgeon"s Guide to Getting Ahead: Right Behavior, Tough Thinking, Clear Writing, and Living a Good Life"(Crown).

Source: http://www.foxnews.com/opinion/2016/02/02/its-groundhog-day-2016-best-way-to-celebrate-watch-movie.html

Continue Reading ..

Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul suspends presidential campaign

Part 2 of the 9 p.m. Fox News-Google GOP Presidential Debate

Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul suspended his Republican presidential campaign on Wednesday, after finishing fifth in the leadoff Iowa caucuses.

Though Paul actually exceeded expectations in the Iowa contest, Fox News is told he did not believe his campaign had the momentum to build upon going into the New Hampshire primary next week. The libertarian-leaning senator made the decision official in a brief statement.

Across the country thousands upon thousands of young people flocked to our message of limited government, privacy, criminal justice reform and a reasonable foreign policy. Brushfires of Liberty were ignited, and those will carry on, as will I, he said.

Although, today I will suspend my campaign for President, the fight is far from over. I will continue to carry the torch for Liberty in the United States Senate and I look forward to earning the privilege to represent the people of Kentucky for another term."

Paul, who was often at odds with other Republican candidates on issues like national security and surveillance, struggled to attract the loyal and enthusiastic following that buoyed his father Ron Pauls past presidential bids.

He was seen as having a strong debate performance in Des Moines last week, perhaps contributing to his respectable finish on Monday -- but was looking at dim chances next week in New Hampshire, where several other candidates are polling stronger.

Paul, in opting not to continue his presidential bid, can now concentrate on his Senate re-election campaign.

Paul follows former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee in dropping out of the Republican primary battle after Iowas caucuses.

Source: http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2016/02/03/kentucky-sen-paul-suspends-presidential-campaign.html

Continue Reading ..

RIP Scion, Chevy Bolt EV Powertrain, Tesla Model 3: Today"s Car News

2016 Scion iM FIRST DRIVE REVIEW

2016 Scion iM drive event, Philadelphia area, Sept 2015

Enlarge Photo

Today, Toyota kills off its Scion "youth brand," a look at how General Motors and LG collaborated on 2017 Chevrolet Bolt EV development, and everything we know so far about the Tesla Model 3 electric car. All this and more on Green Car Reports.

The Volkswagen diesel scandal is eroding trust in German engineering and the auto industry in general, a recent survey finds.

West Coast states could cut their oil use in half by 2030, according to a new Union of Concerned Scientists report.

Toyota is killing off its Scion "youth brand." Most Scion models will be sold as Toyotas beginning in August.

Find out how General Motors and LG collaborated on the design of the 2017 Chevrolet Bolt EV powertrain.

With its debut just weeks away, here"s everything we know so far about the 200-mile, $35,000 Tesla Model 3 electric car.

Volkswagen reportedly submitted a plan to bring 3.0-liter V-6 TDI diesel vehicles in line with emissions to U.S. regulators.

Finally, MINI and Hyundai hire some big names for their Super Bowl 50 ads.

_______________________________________________

Follow GreenCarReports on Facebook and Twitter

Source: http://www.greencarreports.com/news/1102194_rip-scion-chevy-bolt-ev-powertrain-tesla-model-3-todays-car-news

Continue Reading ..