Posted on 02/02/2016 11:06:15 AM PST by pgyanke
I was listening to Rush in the car talking about Ted Cruz's win in Iowa last night. There's just about no point to calling his show, sometimes, with the millions trying to get through so I thought I would post my thoughts here.
1. Rush correctly pointed out that Ted's win in Iowa is unique in that he was the only candidate (ever?) to dare to take on the ethanol mandate. I think it's a little deeper than this. For once, voters have been given a choice of a candidate that speaks the truth and lets the chips fall where they may. Every other candidate thinks they have to toe the line and tell the locals what they want to hear. Conservative voters have to accept that this is what it takes to win. Therefore, we never get to actually vote for what we want. Ted showed what happens when true conservatism is espoused without political calculation. Hopefully, he stays true to form and true to principal on other "rails" of politics and gives us the hope of true reform in line with the Constitution.Just wanted to say it.2. Rush had a caller say that he thought Donald Trump missed the last debate out of fear... or at least he took it that way. That may have hurt Trump's numbers in the caucus. Rush put out an alternate theory that Trump wasn't afraid but rather made a political calculation that without him there his chief rival, Cruz, would take the slings and arrows. Trump had nowhere to go but down so why take the chance? This was an opportunity to make Cruz the center of mass for the attacks. I'm sorry but that still translates as fear. This is the old "prevent defense" approach I hated as a decades-loyal Oakland Raiders fan. They would get ahead and then give the game away by sitting on their lead. Don't change your game plan. Sitting on a "prevent defense" is still an expression of fear... the fear of failure because the only movement available is down. It's a fear of a misstep.
3. Conservatives can win... forget the "electability" argument. It's about supporting your guy. If you want a conservative, vote for a conservative. Choosing your candidate based on the "electability" calculation means you let the media or other powers-that-be choose your candidate. That isn't wise in an election that is as much a referendum on the establishment as it is a regular political cycle.
I am happy with it.
Cruz would be last on my list of GOP candidates.
Why?
well isn’t this a pickle, Cruz is first on mine. :^)
That needs repeating....
Me too. All three of them (Cruz, Trump, Rubio) should be happy ... one delegate separates them and it is now clearly a three man race.
Long way to go ... with Cruz or Trump ... I could wholeheartedly pull the lever ...
Rubio, I would have to plug my nose again and vote against the Dem.
By being against the ethanol mandate and winning, Cruz can now use his position in all other states. On the other hand, pro-ethanol candidates could’nt win with that position, and now can’t switch when campaigning in non-cornbelt states.
Like others, I would also like to know why Cruz would be last on your list of any of the candidates.
I liked Cruz pretty well until he or his group indicated that Carson would be out and they shouldn’t waste their vote. That’s lying and cheating and I have no respect for him if he was involved in that. He was supposed to be a principled Christian choice.
I am really trying to avoid thinking that I WILL HAVE TO VOTE FOR RUBIO, but compared to Hilary or Sanders, I’ll take Dem-lite.
The revival tent show is popular in Iowa too.
Good summation.
Well said. Great analysis and obviously well thought out. This election, I will not vote out of fear or manipulation by the mainstream media and establishment. I will vote for him I think will make the best president ever and let God sort it out.
If it is true (and I doubt that it is because I don’t trust the media), I doubt very seriously that Ted Cruz was aware of anything like this happening and certainly would have not directed it.
I’m a Christian, born & raised. I have two brothers who are ministers - Baptist & Nazarene. With that said, Cruz is a religious zealot. Too judgmental for me. It’s either his way or the highway. I don’t believe our mission as a Christian is to make fun of those who are trying to make their paths to Christ. I don’t want a rigid preacher for president.
His voice is too feminine, it’s kind of creepy actually. When he speaks, he talks down to you. I used to think I could vote for him, but not after watching him in all the debates and interviews. He would be my last choice.
RE: Cruz would be last on my list of GOP candidates.
You prefer Kasich, Christie, Jeb and Fiorina over Cruz? Why?
Cruz is on my never vote for list and I voted for Cruz three times here in Texas. Never again will Cruz ever get a vote from me.
Then DU is your forum.
Cruz won Iowa with organization, discipline, dedication, hard work and a consistent message of conservatism. In short, he managed his campaign to win.
In addition to all of the other qualities, one would want a President that can manage his affairs and his campaign. That characteristic would argue well for managing the country through what will be a difficult transition back to something like normalcy, instead of the charade we have all lived through the past 7 years.
Don't count Cruz out, no matter what gets thrown at him. He has been planning this for a long time.
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