IS CASTRO ABOUT TO CALL IT QUITS? Former Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Secretary Julian Castro laments of the Republicans that “there’s a certain element within that base that seems to love it when people are cruel to one another. And I don’t know why that is.” Where does that come from?

Most likely from the fact Castro is doubtful to qualify for the December 19 Democratic presidential debate in Los Angeles after missing the previous one. He’s nowhere in the polls and he’s failed to make any real difference in the flow of the campaign. So …

Remember Beto’s parting shots before he withdrew? Six weeks from his withdrawal, he said “Hell yes, we’re going to take away your AR-15.” Then a couple of weeks before the end, he threatened to jerk tax exemptions from churches that don’t support same-sex marriage. Saying something really radical in a last-ditch attempt to gain some saving traction didn’t work for Beto and isn’t likely to for Castro, either.