Posted on 03/27/2015 8:32:21 PM PDT by massmike
Former Senator Rick Santorum tells a story about his 2012 campaign for the GOP presidential nomination. A group of deep-pocket donors called the Republican candidates to New York to be vetted. Santorum found it odd that all of the questions on social issues were directed at him.
Finally he said to the donors: "Why are you only asking me about abortion and marriage? My opponents all have the same positions," to which one responded: "Yes, but you mean it."
That's what scares the left and its media myrmidons the most about Ted Cruz – that he's not Romney '08, who dressed in conservative drag to seduce the party base. With the Texan, what you see is what you get.
The media response to Cruz's first-out-of-the gate announcement was painfully predictable.
The New York Times, Washington Post, Reuters, CNN and other citadels of advocacy journalism told us (while trying, not very hard, to maintain a veneer of objectivity) that this wing-nut Senator from Texas is "seen as a divisive figure in Washington" – plus "his colleagues don't like him," he "has denied prevailing science (theory) on climate change," and has "defied and battled his party's establishment."
They quoted RINO Rep. Peter King that Cruz "brought the country to the edge of ruin" by trying to actually do something about Obamacare, and claimed his time in Washington "has been marked by accusations of demagogy." (Words like "demagogy," "intransigent" and "hardliner" are reserved for a certain type of Republican.) Cruz is "The Most Hated Man In The Senate" (read the headline of a story in Foreign Policy), has "done nothing to endear himself to party elites," and has either an exceedingly slim, razor-thin, anorexic or absolutely no chance of winning the Republican nomination.
Rarely was it told that Cruz is a Harvard-educated lawyer (Harvard Law Professor Alan Dershowitz said that in decades of teaching, Cruz was one of his brightest students) who clerked for Chief Justice William Rehnquist and, as the state's solicitor general, represented Texas in cases before the Supreme Court.
Some actually had the nerve to argue that Cruz is a neophyte who's served less than two years in the Senate, has no executive experience, and there are those nagging questions about where he was born – concerns that never bothered them in 2008. The Times noted that of the 112 bills the Texan sponsored, only one became law – but forgot to mention that Democrats controlled the Senate for all but 10 weeks of Cruz's tenure.
That the GOP elite despise him may be Cruz's crowning glory.
The Wall Street wing of the party (a stunted appendage) led us to defeat in four of the last six presidential elections. They prefer overripe veterans like Bob Dole and John McCain, who (like the pigs and the men at the end of "Animal Farm") are virtually indistinguishable from the other party – or beautiful losers like Pretty Boy Mitt who thought he was running a campaign for president of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce instead of president of the United States.
Cruz is a throwback to another presidential contender – one who was also "too extreme," alienated the Republican establishment, was too flamboyant (appeared in Technicolor in a monochrome field) and, the pundits assured us, had absolutely no chance of becoming president.
Much has been made of Cruz's choice of a venue to launch his presidential campaign – Liberty University (founded by "televangelist" Jerry Falwell, the media elite sneered) – and his faith-based message. "God's blessing has been on America from the very beginning of this nation, and I believe God isn't done with America yet."
Cruz told the students of this Christian university: "I believe in you. I believe in the power of millions of courageous conservatives rising up to reignite the promise of America."
On August 21, 1980, Ronald Reagan addressed 15,000 conservative Christians in Dallas. As church leaders, "I know you can't endorse me," Reagan famously told them. "But I want you to know that I endorse you and what you are doing." Among them was Jerry Falwell.
Reagan said the Bible held the answers to all of America's problems of the day and that if we would only return to that "old-time religion," we could realize the dream of a shining "city on a hill."
Ronald Reagan was unique; there will never be another like him. But like Reagan, Cruz understands the power of an army of passionate idealists – people who aren't moved by marginal tax rates or the profit margin of the Fortune 500, but by family, faith and freedom.
The Karl Roves and Ed Rollinses can't begin to fathom the appeal of Cruz's vision for the party's conservative core: Stand with our loyal ally Israel. In order to fight Islamic terrorism, we first must acknowledge its nature. There's no security without securing the borders. And "It is a time for truth, it is a time for liberty, it is a time to reclaim the Constitution of the United States." It's been 35 years since we've heard talk like this.
Maybe the legion of consultants and pollsters are right. Maybe Cruz can't raise enough money fast enough to overcome the Bush printing press. But I'd rather lose on principle than win on expediency. That's the only way to save America in the long-run.
The more they bash him, them more I’ll support him.
It was at that meeting that James Dobson said, "America would be saved when America's men stand up and say - We have had enough."
“Politics is the gentle art of getting votes from the poor and campaign funds from the rich, by promising to protect each from the other. “~Oscar Ameringer~
Palin isn't running. Walker isn't perfect. Cruz seems pretty darn good.
I don't expect perfection. I could expand my field, but it would take a lot. I could shrink my field, but it would take a lot. I'm pretty much set in my decision for 2016. I don't care what the media reports.
[Cruz understands the power of an army of passionate idealists – people who aren’t moved by marginal tax rates or the profit margin of the Fortune 500, but by family, faith and freedom.]
FAITH, FAMILY, FREEDOM
TED CRUZ 2016
http://www.tedcruz.org/
If Cruz were to capture the nomination and then for political reasons (i.e. broadening the base) took a so called moderate as his Veep would he still be your man?
Point of reference Bush 41 was the moderate that Reagan took in 1980 to do just that. GHW Bush mollified the Republican establishment and more moderate branch of the party
So would, just for conversation sake, a ticket of Cruz/Christie work for you?
Excuse me for butting in, but you've raised an interesting (and important) argument.
To me, the answer to your question is "No". The election of GHWB ended up squandering the legacy of Reagan. In many respects, it's the reason we are where we are.
It's absolutely necessary that the country enjoy at least 16 years of conservative governance in order to regain itself.
Chris Christie isn't going to do that.
Sarah Palin would run if she was asked . . . to be Vice President again. People will say, “The third time’s the charm.” That is wrong. The second time’s the charm!
I’m hoping that Senator Ted Cruz chooses Sarah Palin as his running mate because they are allies in conservatism.
Cruz/Walker
That’s about it. And the only way I would do that is if Walker could carry Wisconsin. We already know Clnton has been annointed and she will take Castro as her VP to take care of the Hispanic vote. Which means the rat will lock up all the blue states. But if she loses wisconsin and the Republican can win his states, it’s over.
I understand almost all of the positions the anti-Cruzers take. I don’t agree with all of them, but I understand most of them.
The one I don’t get is the “He ruined the public image of the GOP with the government shutdown”. You hear this over and over.
And yet, in the election following Cruz’s confrontation with the monster Federal state, THE GOP WON TREMENDOUS VICTORIES.
If Cruz made the GOP so unpopular, how do they explain the 2014 election results?
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