Friday News: GOP Becomes the Dick-Measuring-Contest Party…and the Book Banning Party

by Lowell

Here are a few national and Virginia news headlines, political and otherwise, for Friday, March 4.

• Rivals pile on Trump as GOP divisions appear to deepen
• Where were Republican moderates 20 years ago? (“Conservatives have themselves to blame for the rise of Donald Trump.” So true!)
• Trump’s dangerous dance with bigotry (“Either he believes what he’s saying or he’s saying it for political reasons. Which is worse?” Or both.)
• Mitt Romney Aims at Donald Trump, Hits G.O.P. (“It took the Trump-dominated Super Tuesday contests to awaken Republican leaders to the fact that the darkest elements of the party’s base, which many of them have embraced or exploited, are now threatening their party.”)
• Krugman: Clash of Republican Con Artists (“Establishment Republicans denounce Mr. Trump as a fraud, which he is. But is he more fraudulent than the establishment trying to stop him? Not really.”)
• Five Big Questions After a Vulgar Republican Debate (“Maybe the detour down his pants will amount to something more and better, in the end, than phallic braggadocio.”)
• To Republicans afraid to take a stand against Donald Trump: Grow up (“Disabling his authoritarianism should outweigh the GOP’s desire to defeat Hillary Clinton.”)
• They’re With Donald (“As long as Rubio and Cruz are willing to support Trump as the nominee, their attacks on him are meaningless.” Agreed 100%.)
• The 6 Best Moments From the GOP Debate in Detroit (“To say things got nasty is an understatement.”)
• First on CNN: Team Romney explores blocking Trump at RNC
• Trump Brags About His Penis Size: ‘I Guarantee You There Is No Problem’ (Trump is possibly the least presidential major party candidate for president in U.S. history.)
• Watch The Republican Debate Turn Into A Dick-Measuring Contest. Literally. (There’s something seriously wrong with Trump.)
• AP Fact Checks Claims From Fox News’ Detroit Republican Debate (Basically, you know Republican candidates for president are lying when their lips are moving.)
• The Fox News Debate Was Ugly, Rowdy, and Immature. Of Course Trump Won.
• Trump cut down to size: The Donald takes a beating during the GOP’s dirty debate, but the attacks will only make conservatives love him more (“Trump’s GOP rivals won’t be able to capitalize on the punches they landed, but the bruises will matter in November”)
• Republicans are desperate: The frantic Hail Mary in Mitt Romney’s big anti-Trump speech
• Let Hillary Win (“If GOP leaders really want to stop Trump, they need to be willing to lose the election.”)
• Ken Cuccinelli Now Says He’ll Support Whoever GOP Nominee Is (Hahahaha, of course he does!)
• Trump’s losses in big Va. counties may prove ominous
• House health care deregulation bill advances to full Senate
• Senate passes bill to penalize smoking while kids are in car
• McAuliffe has “significant concerns” with GO Virginia details
• In Va., bill pitting gay rights vs. religious freedoms advances (Republicans: the theocratic, anti-LGBT bigot party.)
• Virginia’s slippery slope toward censorship in schools (Republicans: the anti-intellectual, anti-culture party.)
• Editorial: Lobbying didn’t stop plan for a cleaner bay (“The Supreme Court correctly declined to hear an appeal by the Farm Bureau to overturn the regulatory regime states will use to restore the Chesapeake Bay.”)
• State lawmakers can’t raise campaign money while in session, but there’s a loophole
• On normally polite Fairfax board, heated arguments over tax rate maneuvers
• Va. Supreme Court chief justice orders embattled local judge to preside outside his district
• Our view: Five questions for Roanoke City Council candidates
• Three Portsmouth City Council members endorse John Rowe for mayor
• Lawyer for Anthony Burfoot: Federal prosecutors entrapped my client
• Forecast: Another chance for snow on Saturday