Posted on 12/14/2015 11:08:27 AM PST by conservativejoy
In Republican circles, it's not uncommon for people to say while they trust Ted Cruz on the issues, they worry he's not likeable.
Donald Trump has even picked up on the fretting and made Cruz's personality the centerpiece of his critique of the Texas Senator. On Fox News Sunday, Trump complained .without an iota of self-awareness , that Cruz is too brash. "You can't walk into the Senate, and scream, and call people liars, and not be able to cajole and get along with people. He'll never get anything done. And, that's the problem with Ted," Trump declared.
But the problem isn't with Ted; it's with the Washington cabal that erupts with fury each time Ted refuses to play along with their clubby parlor games.
DC Republicans couldn't attack Cruz on the issues, he was usually fighting to advance conservative causes they themselves claimed to care about,so they attacked his personality again and again and again. The first attacks started with John McCain's decision to label Cruz and other conservative rabble rousers "wacko birds" shortly after Cruz arrived in the Capitol.
So before anyone starts hand wringing about Cruz not making enough friends, it's worth looking at who he's not making friends with and why.
The truth is, if Republicans want to elect a reliable conservative in 2016, it won't be anyone who plays patty cake with McConnell and the rest of the DC machine.
It's not the voters who don't find him friendly; it's GOP old bulls such as McCain, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, the amnesty-supporting U.S. Chamber of Commerce and the Wall Street Journal editorial board who find it difficult to get along with Cruz. And lots and lots and lots of lobbyists and consultants connected to those same entities.
If Cruz has a nasty habit, it's of proving them wrong time and time again.
When they said nothing could be done to stop gun control legislation in the wake of the Sandy Hook shootings, Cruz said no.
When they said the Gang of 8's amnesty bill had to be passed, Cruz said no.
When they said nothing could be done to stop Obamacare, Cruz said no. For 21 hours straight.
When they said they were powerless to stop the debt ceiling from being raised, Cruz said no and insisted GOP leaders extract a concession in return for an increase. But instead of doing just that, GOP leaders showed their true colors and voted with the Democrats.
And, when Leader McConnell lied about a secret deal he cut to reauthorize the corporate crony Export-Import Bank, Cruz made that lie public.
Then what happened? McConnell, along with his large staff in the Capitol, his large staff at the National Republican Senatorial Committee, and lobbyist allies, led the world to believe Cruz was the bigger sinner for exposing the lie than the man who told the lie. Only in Washington can these things happen.
So, yes, Ted Cruz can be quite disagreeable when folks are pushing ideas that are so disagreeable to him, the Texans he represents, and GOP voters across the nation. But that doesn't make him unlikable. In fact, many people seem to enjoy watching Cruz push back on all the conventional wisdom being peddled in tony Washington circles.
It's certainly bearing out in the polling.
According to the latest Des Moines Register poll, which puts Cruz 10 points ahead of Donald Trump in Iowa, Cruz has the highest favorability ratings in the GOP presidential field.
Seems like the only ones who truly despise him are the ones who have memberships in the Washington cartel that Cruz says he is campaigning to defeat.
(Cruz's high Iowa favorability rankings are also remarkable considering Marco Rubio's campaign has been blanketing the state's airwaves with negative ads about him.)
The truth is, if Republicans want to elect a reliable conservative in 2016, it won't be anyone who plays patty cake with McConnell and the rest of the DC machine. And, it speaks to Cruz's grit that despite everything the D.C. cartel has thrown at him, he's thriving in the GOP primary race.
Sure, all the negativity has taken a toll. Cruz has been attacked from the left, the right, upside down, and sideways during his short but dynamic years in the Senate. Cruz, knowing full well a single error can be made in a single second, may sometimes come off as too scripted and too tight-lipped. Some even complain that he's too smooth and too slick.
These are all signs of intense discipline , a desirous quality for a presidential candidate. Cruz has been virtually gaffe proof despite being vocal on the constant flood of hot-button political issues.
How long could the other candidates stand in the spotlight and not succumb to the heat? It's hard to see how any other candidate has even attempted the level of engagement Cruz has had on issues important to conservative voters.
And yet there are concerns about Cruz's so-called personality problem. So be it. Because his conservative record is so crystal clear, he's been vetted, and there are no skeletons hanging in his closet, that's all there's really left to criticize.
That's a pretty good problem to have.
“Cruz has been virtually gaffe proof despite being vocal on the constant flood of hot-button political issues. “
Cruz avoids as much controversy as possible. Having been at 4-9 percent for weeks allowed him to say whatever because the media didn’t care to cover him, like they didn’t cover Christie.
However, when Carson and Trump makes tough statements on hot button issues, guess who covered it and flung the bombs and missiles at them? Both Carson and Trump got the heat, Cruz got ignored, but gets to have scribes sing legends of his bravery and risks on the campaign trail!
Now we have this absurd narrative of “Cruz has been as controversial, and he handles it soooooooo much better”? Good luck with that! If the media, and GOPe can use him to get rid of Trump, then you can kiss that protection goodbye.
And Cruz is polling what nationally, maybe 10%. And just how many people are showing up at his rallies?
Amntn wrote:
“Rush and Cruz supporters are not understanding that if Cruz were to be elected he would not be able to accomplish anything because congress already hates him.
That is not an opinion and it is not a liberal attack. It is the truth.
Congress will also hate Trump but Trump is the ONLY one with the ability to go above the heads of congress and the media and go straight to the people.”
Two things: One, this is not fact. It is your opinion. Two, Trump is not a conservative - and that is a fact! So, if he could go over congress’ head to the American people - and that is a big “if” for him as president - what would he bring to them? History is full of examples of people going from the frying pan into the fire. As much as I want to see Obama out of office, I do not want to see one problem replace with another. And on that score, Cruz is the far safer bet.
I’m sorry. I don’t buy your argument.
Cruz was five points behind Trump in a Fox News national poll.
Very wise assessment. Enjoyed your post.
Thank you. People are losing the forest for the trees here. Trump HAS to say something against Cruz. He needs to win the primary first. BUT - he's the only one who can beat Hillary. That's why Hillary's people are going to push Cruz, to split the GOP vote. Its Hillary's only hope, the numbers don't lie. If Trump wins the primary, she's toast.
I would love to have him take my land to build another hotel. Or anything. You do realize eminent domain pays compensation don’t you? I’ve got property for sale that with the current market I just about can’t give away.
Take it up with the supreme court, they made the call not Trump. And while your at it show me where Cruz is going to dismantle Eminent Domain. Oh that’s right, Cruz supports it too.
““Rush and Cruz supporters are not understanding that if “Cruz were to be elected he would not be able to accomplish anything because congress already hates him.”
This is actually true. Outside of a small group of people, Cruz has no pull anywhere in congress. If he is elected, and assuming that the GOP controls both houses, then why is it assumed that the GOPE, whom will still be in the leadership, will all of a sudden help Cruz?
“Congress will also hate Trump but Trump is the ONLY one with the ability to go above the heads of congress and the media and go straight to the people.”
This is also true. Trump would have no choice, being hated, and being an outsider. Being both will give him the freedom to use the “bully pulpit” (which he would likely relish at the opportunity), to the maximum, because he has nothing to lose and people would hang on everything he did.
Is Trump promoting this BS, or is it some other Establishment politician?
It is not an opinion that the majority of the senate does not like Cruz.
How they would treat him if elected is opinion. But seems pretty clear to me. How do they treat him now?
Thank you.
Rush is shining the LIGHT OF TRUTH on this B.S. and how the LAME STREAM MEDIA is trying to start a fight between Trump and Cruz.
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Rush is doing a good job of this. He spent a good deal of time on this today. I certainly hope Trump & his advisors (and Trump’s supporters also) were listening and took it to heart.
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