AN EMAIL FROM THE SENATE CONSERVATIVES FUND:

Fellow Conservatives:

We wanted to share the final results of the 2016 presidential straw poll that we conducted a few weeks ago. With more than 60,000 ballots cast, U.S. Senator Ted Cruz (R-TX) was the clear winner with 43% of the vote. U.S. Senator Rand Paul (R-KY) finished second with 18%. Here are the results:

• Sen. Ted Cruz (TX) - 42.67% (26,114)
• Sen. Rand Paul (KY) - 18.00% (11,018)
• Gov. Scott Walker (WI) - 10.05% (6,153)
• Other: (write-in candidates) - 6.85% (4,192)
• Fmr. Gov. Mike Huckabee (AR) - 6.15% (3,765)
• Gov. Rick Perry (TX) - 4.15% (2,540)
• Sen. Marco Rubio (FL) - 2.41% (1,478)
• Fmr. Gov. Jeb Bush (FL) - 2.18% (1,333)
• Gov. Chris Christie (NJ) - 1.83% (1,122)
• Rep. Paul Ryan (WI) - 1.64% (1,006)
• Gov. Bobby Jindal (LA) - 1.24% (760)
• Fmr. Sen. Rick Santorum (PA) - 1.02% (627)
• Gov. John Kasich (OH) - 0.65% (398)
• Gov. Mike Pence (IN) - 0.45% (273)
• Gov. Nikki Haley (SC) - 0.39% (240)
• Gov. Susana Martinez (NM) - 0.31% (187)

It's remarkable to see Ted Cruz and Rand Paul at the top of this list. When they ran for the Senate, the Washington establishment said they were bad for the party. Now, they are two of the party's top prospects for the White House in 2016.

I'm semi-surprised to see Mike Huckabee and Rick Perry so high on the list. They are two I could easily live with.

POWERLINE ON GLOBAL WARMING: "[L]ying is fine as long as it works."

THE SCOREKEEPER:

"President Barack Obama compared the Republican budget plan unveiled by Rep. Paul Ryan this week to a stinkburger and a meanwich during a speech Wednesday afternoon in Michigan."

Ah, a Harvard education.

He's just jealous because he is ineligible to eat a manwich. Stick to the lady fingers.

There's more, equally good. Read them all.

SKYDIVING WARNING: You could be hit by a meteorite.

THE OBAMA ADMINISTRATION: A culture of corruption. Best comment: "Does anyone believe the Obama administration on anything? If you do, you're either a fool or a tool."

MORNING JOE: Harry Reid is "too stupid to be in politics".

No argument from me.

SOME POWERLINE HUMOR.

‘AMEN!’ Dana Perino’s must-read plea strikes a chord with veterans.

Seconded.

BICYCLE RIDING may be hazardous to your future children. Recommended: wear an athletic cup and ride a momcycle (in your mom jeans).

PARTICULARLY if you're running against a Liberal....

POWERLINE'S WEEK IN PICTURES: April Fools' edition. There are plenty to choose from this week, but this one caught my eye:

The Fred Thompson cartoon is my second choice.

PAUL GREENBERG makes pasta. Something I should try....

DEFECTIVE CARS CAN BE RECALLED; defective bureaucrats can't.

WHY $10.10?

THE RACIST LEFT is really frightened of Ted Cruz. Any normal person is 'other' to them.

LIBERALISM: If it doesn't work, throw more (taxpayer) money at it. It worked so well in education....

HEH: Former Obama Press Secretary Robert Gibbs thinks the ObamaCare employer mandate will not go into effect.

If true, ObamaCare is dead.

SPRING IS (FINALLY!) HERE. Looking out the window yesterday, I say a doe wandering across our front lawn. The squirrels are also out in force.

Time to bring the patio furniture and barbeque out of the basement. It's not (yet) T-shirt, shorts, and flip-flops weather, but soon....

PROOF THE OBAMA ADMINISTRATION IS ANTI-TECHNOLOGY: Now it's trying to ban fire.

NEW DATA FROM NASA'S CASSINI MISSION appear to confirm a large liquid-water sea below the icy crust of Enceladus, a small moon of Saturn.

POWERLINE'S Ammo Grrrll takes on 'Old Bossy'.

The best and worst boss I’ve ever had were both women. One was brilliant and hard­working; tough, but fair; demanding perfection and modeling it; asking much, but expressing appreciation. A Leader par excellence. She served for decades.

The other was petty, lazy, dishonest, incompetent and mean. And those were her good points. She was also bossy. She lasted a few months.

The best boss I ever had was a woman; the worst ... a man.

DEMOCRATS' 2014 CAMPAIGN SLOGAN: "Death and Taxes".

How very appropriate.

PALIN TO 'VLADIMIR PUTIN': “You’re no match for a Mama Grizzly.”

WEEKLY STANDARD: The CIA knew Al Qaeda was involved in Benghazi from the get-go. An the White House knew it would be a political disaster to admit it, so they lied.