Iowa Latest - Election 2016

BBC News -Live from Iowa:  Reports in its 6.45pm post the following,  " Iowa residents who are hosting caucus events at their homes tonight tell me they are concerned that the weather will lead to a low turnout. In the rural parts of the state, caucuses are hosted in people’s private residences rather than in public buildings and driving distances can be quite long. "

Lets Get Real:

IF the weather is bad in Iowa then only the true followers will come out, this should help Hillary Clinton and Senator Ted Cruz, if on the other hand a large number of voters turn out this could have the flip result, this would help Donald Trump and Senator Sanders.   If the Des Moines Register is right the final result should be  a Trump and Clinton win, of course if they are right.  A surge of Senator Rubio could be on the cards, he has become the Establishment candidate to beat Trump, on the other side, if O'Malley supporters could decide the Democrat result, if a candidate does not get 15% in the first draw his supporters will have to move to either Clinton or Sanders.  This could be a very LONG NIGHT. 

The Clinton Email Scandal - Election 2016

Fox News: Reports " The intelligence community has now deemed some of Hillary Clinton’s emails “too damaging" to national security to release under any circumstances, according to a U.S. government official close to the ongoing review. A second source, who was not authorized to speak on the record, backed up the finding. " 

Lets Get Real: 

This could be the political IED that takes out the Clinton Campaign, if the FBI find that Secretary Clinton has broken the law with the use of a email server that was not secured it could place HRC before a Judge and Jury.   Of course considering the choice of a Sanders Presidency this blog hopes that the FBI or the Obama Department of Justice clears the Secretary of ALL charges, this blogger would buy a 2nd hand nuclear bunker should either Trump or Sanders win the Oval. 

The Republican Debate - Election 2016

Telegraph - US Politics Live: Has the following review of the Fox Presidential Debate, " A very successful stunt by Donald Trump to skip the debate and steal the headlines. But, in terms of who won the debate itself, Mr Trump's absence also helped Jeb Bush shine - he was unburdened, light-hearted and seemed to have a bit of energy back. It's still a long way back for the self-proclaimed "establishment candidate" though. Ted Cruz failed to handle the increased attention on him. Another of Mr Trump's rivals had a good night - Megyn Kelly was an excellent host. "

Lets Get Real:

The real question is can Jeb Bush use this success when it comes to votes on Monday night, at least without Trump around the other politicians could relax and debate real issues, Cruz by general agreement did not have a good night, ALL the other candidates went for him as Trump was missing.  Thus either Jeb Bush or Senator Rubio could be the Establishment choice to take on THE TRUMP, the question is what will be their vote share on Monday and how well they do in New Hampshire. 

The Debate Ratings - Election 2016

CNN - Politics: Reports on who won the ratings in the Presidential debate, " Answer: Fox's debate. But it was the second lowest rated debate of the season. So Trump is certain to take credit for hurting the channel's total viewership. "

Lets Get Real:

At least serious candidates to be POTUS took to the Fox debate, the elephant in the room Donald Trump had his how show and he lost the ratings.   One can only hope that the voters of Iowa punish Trump for his move to snub the debate.   The Republican Establishment has to pick a serious candidate and back him up with money and support, there is only one real choice, that is Senator Rubio, it sad to say that Jeb Bush has left it to late, lets hope Rubio gains from his strong presence at the debate. 

The Republican Debate - Verdict

BBC News: Reports " With a few notable exceptions, all the candidates kept their balance and stayed on their talking points. It's as if the unconventional Trump's absence from the hall made everyone a bit more restrained and, well, political. "

The reviews are mixed, it seems Cruz got it the neck as he has been 2nd in most of the polls for Iowa, Rubio, Bush turned up at last.   The question is will the Donald Trump suffer for not attending the debate, that is up to the voters of Iowa, lets hope they teach the Donald a lesson, in life you have to turn up. thus even the great Gipper lost Iowa in 1980 but after that never failed to attend a debate.  The question is will Trump be a new Gipper who loses Iowa, but takes New Hampshire and later the Presidency, or Bush 41 who won Iowa but lost the Republican nomination to Reagan in 1980.  Time is ticking away before the Monday vote. 

Sanders vs. Clinton - Election 2016

Fox News: Reports " 'This is a lie': Sanders lashes out at 'negative' attacks, Clinton camp "

Lets Get Real:

The Democratic race is going dirty pool, the only result that matters is winning. IF Sanders can take Iowa and New Hampshire from Hillary Clinton he could really make it tough for Hilary to get the nomination.  On the other hand if HRC takes Iowa and comes in a close second in NH this should put Clinton the way to the White House, there is a firewall in South, in this case African - American voters, and the first African - American President has made it clear that he supports HRC, even if he did have an afternoon meeting with Senator Sanders.   Thus it matters who wins Iowa, it could decide the political future of HRC. 

The Donald vs. Fox News

Donald Trump Campaign:  Has released the following statement: " As someone who wrote one of the best-selling business books of all time, The Art of the Deal, who has built an incredible company, including some of the most valuable and iconic assets in the world, and as someone who has a personal net worth of many billions of dollars, Mr. Trump knows a bad deal when he sees one. FOX News is making tens of millions of dollars on debates, and setting ratings records (the highest in history), where as in previous years they were low-rated afterthoughts. 

Unlike the very stupid, highly incompetent people running our country into the ground, Mr. Trump knows when to walk away. Roger Ailes and FOX News think they can toy with him, but Mr. Trump doesn’t play games. There have already been six debates, and according to all online debate polls including Drudge, Slate, Time Magazine, and many others, Mr. Trump has won all of them, in particular the last one. Whereas he has always been a job creator and not a debater, he nevertheless truly enjoys the debating process - and it has been very good for him, both in polls and popularity. 

He will not be participating in the FOX News debate and will instead host an event in Iowa to raise money for the Veterans and Wounded Warriors, who have been treated so horribly by our all talk, no action politicians. Like running for office as an extremely successful person, this takes guts and it is the kind of mentality our country needs in order to Make America Great Again. "

Lets Get Real:

This blog can not tell if the move by Donald Trump will become a hit or might cost him the Iowa caucus.   The voters like it when candidates take on the press, but this is different, its personal, its the Donald vs. Ms Kelly of Fox News.   The day a news outlet allows candidates to decide who will present a debate is the day that channel is no longer a real news channel.  Fox News has backed up Ms Kelly as it should, one can argue that this issue should have resolved before the debate, or was Trump looking for a way out, he leads the pack by double digits, why put that at risk with debate.  The voters of Iowa will decide the real winner.