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DONALD J. TRUMP RESPONSE TO THE POPE — If and when the Vatican is attacked by ISIS, which as everyone knows is ISIS's ultimate trophy, I can promise you that the Pope would have only wished and prayed that Donald Trump would have been President because this would not have happened.
Discussion:
Raw Story, U.S. News, CNN, New York Times, Yahoo Politics, Politico, VDARE, The Atlantic, Mother Jones, Al Jazeera English, Right Wing Watch, CANNONFIRE, Vox, BBC, Mediaite, Little Green Footballs, Friendly Atheist, Hit & Run, CRUX, Vatican Radio English, Salon, Associated Press, Talking Points Memo, Washington Post, Los Angeles Times, The Resurgent, Arkansas Blog, Arkansas Times, The Last Refuge, ABC News, Refinery29, addictinginfo.org, The Daily Caller, Hot Air, The Moderate Voice, Hollywood Life, AMERICAblog NewsAMERICAblog …, Althouse and Breitbart
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A canticle for Donald Trump — Donald Trump's progress toward the Republican nomination is beginning to look fated. When it comes to good luck, or divine intervention, can anything beat Pope Francis's condemnation of Donald Trump today for supporting a wall protecting the southern border of the United States?
Discussion:
Associated Press, Catholic Philly and National Review


Pope Francis Suggests Donald Trump Is ‘Not Christian’ — ABOARD THE PAPAL AIRLINER — Inserting himself into the Republican presidential race, Pope Francis on Wednesday suggested that Donald J. Trump “is not Christian” because of the harshness of his campaign promises to deport more immigrants …
Discussion:
Rolling Stone, The Federalist, Cincinnati.com, Business Insider, Reuters, New York Magazine, Vox, America Magazine, VDARE, Hollywood Life, New York Times, The Atlantic, Politico, The Daily Caller, Friendly Atheist, AMERICAblog NewsAMERICAblog …, Right Wing Watch, Gothamist, Jezebel, Independent Journal Review, The Slot, Political Insider blog, Roll Call, Washington Post, Taylor Marsh, CRUX, Daily Kos, Weasel Zippers, Charleston City Paper, Raw Story, NO QUARTER USA NET, Mother Jones, Hit & Run and Arkansas Blog, Arkansas Times


Why aren't we talking about how big a frontrunner Donald Trump is for the Republican nomination?
Discussion:
Hullabaloo

Pope suggests contraception can be condoned in Zika crisis
Discussion:
The Scoop Blog, RH Reality Check, Infowars, Associated Press, Mother Jones and abc11.com

Reports: Chicago court to hear case to knock Cruz off White House ballot
Discussion:
Political Wire and ballot-access.org

Donald Trump Fires Back at Sharp Rebuke by Pope Francis
Discussion:
The Week, Political Wire, Friendly Atheist, Business Insider and The Atlantic

Pope Francis says Trump ‘not Christian’ …
Discussion:
Joe.My.God., Raw Story and New York Magazine

Donald Trump calls Pope Francis ‘disgraceful’ for questioning his faith
Discussion:
The Frisky, Informed Comment, addictinginfo.org and The Muslim Times


Fox News Poll: Clinton ‘feels the Bern,’ trails Sanders by three points nationally — Bernie Sanders now tops Hillary Clinton in the race for the Democratic nomination. — The latest Fox News national poll finds 47 percent of Democratic primary voters now back the Vermont senator, up from 37 percent in January.
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Fox News Poll: National presidential race February 18, 2016 — Home - Video - Politics - U.S. - Opinion - Entertainment - Tech - Science - Health - Travel - Lifestyle - World - Sports - On Air — ©2016 FOX News Network, LLC. All rights reserved.
Discussion:
Talking Points Memo, The Argo Journal, Politicus USA, Fox News Insider, Politico and TPNN



Clinton Strong in South Carolina But Warning Signs Ahead, Bloomberg Poll Shows
Discussion:
New York Times, Politico and Talking Points Memo

Bernie Sanders Cuts Into Hillary Clinton's National Lead: Poll
Discussion:
Washington Post, Talking Points Memo and RedState

U.S. Rep. Jim Clyburn to endorse Hillary Clinton in Democratic presidential primary
Discussion:
CNN, Washington Times and The Week

Bloomberg Would Lose Big to Sanders and Trump — WSJ/NBC Poll
Discussion:
Washington Post

Sources: South Carolina's Jim Clyburn Plans To Endorse Hillary Clinton
Discussion:
Here & Now and Washington Post


Cruz Campaign Pushes Photoshopped Image of Rubio Shaking Hands with Obama — The Marco Rubio campaign is livid Thursday after the Ted Cruz campaign released a website that includes a photoshopped image of their candidate shaking hands with President Barack Obama.
Discussion:
Wall Street Journal, Fox News, The Gateway Pundit, Trail Blazers Blog, Mother Jones, CNN, National Review and The Resurgent
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In S.C., the GOP contest looks more and more like a three-man race — EASLEY, S.C. — After more than a week of fevered campaigning, Republicans in South Carolina are on the verge of answering two of the main questions hovering over the GOP presidential race: Will Donald Trump cement his place …
Discussion:
Politico, The Week, Post and Courier, Independent Journal Review and NBC News

Bush machine running on fumes — SUMMERVILLE, S.C. — Some of Jeb Bush's most steadfast allies think Saturday might be the end. — Donors, who poured millions into his campaign and super PAC, have stopped giving - one refusing a direct request to raise $1 million this week.


Donald Trump's Lead Slashed in South Carolina: Poll — Donald Trump is now leading Saturday's South Carolina Republican primary by 5 points — down from his 16-point lead in the state a month ago, according to results from a new NBC News/Wall Street Journal/Marist poll.
Discussion:
Political Wire and The Week

Down on Jeb's Prospects, Bob Dole Says Marco Rubio is His Second Choice
Discussion:
Politico, Hot Air and FiveThirtyEight


In 2002, Donald Trump Said He Supported Invading Iraq — “Are you for invading Iraq?” Howard Stern asked him, and Trump answered, “Yeah, I guess so.” — w.soundcloud.com — For months, Donald Trump has claimed that he opposed the Iraq War before the invasion began — as an example of his great judgment on foreign policy issues.
Discussion:
Guardian, The Stranger …, Betsy's Page, Wall Street Journal, Raw Story, CNN, Yahoo Politics, Weasel Zippers, Hit & Run, CBS New York, New York Times, Politico, Mediaite, Business Insider, NBC News, Mother Jones, The Week, The Right Scoop, The Last Refuge, Independent Journal Review, Le·gal In·sur·rec· tion and Slantpoint

U.S. Strikes ISIS Camp in Libya, Killing More Than 30 — WASHINGTON — American warplanes struck an Islamic State camp in Libya early Friday, targeting a senior Tunisian operative linked to two major terrorist attacks in Tunisia last year, according to a Western official.
Discussion:
The Week, NPR, NBC News, RT and The Daily Beast
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U.S. warplanes hit ISIS targets in Libya, official says — WASHINGTON — American warplanes struck multiple targets in Libya overnight, hitting what was apparently an Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) training camp and a senior extremist leader, a senior U.S. military official confirmed to CBS News Friday.
Discussion:
The Week


Republicans, let's win this one for Nino — Let's understand something about the fight to fill the Supreme Court seat of Antonin ("Nino") Scalia. This is about nothing but raw power. Any appeal you hear to high principle is phony — brazenly, embarrassingly so.
Discussion:
Washington Post
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Charles Koch: This is the one issue where Bernie Sanders is right — Charles G. Koch is chairman and chief executive of Koch Industries. — As he campaigns for the Democratic nomination for president, Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders (I) often sounds like he's running as much against me as he is the other candidates.
Discussion:
New York Magazine and Scripting News


EXCLUSIVE — Mom Whose Son Was Tortured to Death by Illegal Endorses Trump, Says 'Pope Doesn't Care About Me' — In an exclusive telephone interview with Breitbart News, Laura Wilkerson, whose son was tortured to death by an illegal alien, explained why she cast her early ballot today for GOP frontrunner, Donald Trump.
Discussion:
The Gateway Pundit


EXCLUSIVE- Pat Buchanan: Donald Trump's Rise Is Rejection of a Quarter Century of Bush Republicanism — In an exclusive statement to Breitbart News, Pat Buchanan declared that Trump's rise represents a rejection of 25 years of Bush Republicanism— an ideology which Buchanan …


Caitlyn Jenner: I get more ‘flak’ for being a Republican than being a transgender woman — There's an elephant in the room, and as far as Caitlyn Jenner is concerned, it has more to do with her Republican politics than her gender identity. — “I have gotten more flak for being a conservative Republican …
Discussion:
The Hill
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The media is misleading the public on Syria — COVERAGE OF the Syrian war will be remembered as one of the most shameful episodes in the history of the American press. Reporting about carnage in the ancient city of Aleppo is the latest reason why. — For three years, violent militants have run Aleppo.
Discussion:
CANNONFIRE