Posted on 02/23/2016 6:10:56 AM PST by Kaslin
Well, what do you know: In 1980, after reported differences in communications strategy and just before the New Hampshire primary, Ronald Reagan fired his press secretary, Jim Lake, along with two other senior staffers. Ronald Reagan, the seasoned conservative, was in a pitched battle with his party's moderate, George H.W. Bush. The Reagan campaign was in debt and seemed not to have The Republican Establishment with him.
In that moment, the future "Great Communicator," and arguably one of the best Commanders-in Chief the Nation has ever seen - who would later create 18 million American jobs with tax and spending cuts, rebuild the American military and bring down the Soviet Union, and then put Justices like Antonin Scalia on the US Supreme Court - regrouped. He made a tough call, at a tough time, refocusing his team on his personal vision. Suddenly, the gloves were off and the lights were on - It was "Morning in America."
Wind the clock forward and one has to wonder, does history repeat itself? Despite winning Iowa and placing strongly in New Hampshire and South Carolina, Senator Ted Cruz fired his communications chief - for what he viewed as a lapse in judgment. Cruz put an instant stop to that Establishment media narrative that he does not care, and went further - reaffirming that his campaign tolerates only the highest standards when issuing external communications involving any other candidate. In effect, Cruz regrouped.
Where will this lead the rising Cruz campaign, to higher levels of public engagement, public trust and a clear, simple, credible message? We shall see. In any event, the decision was a tough call. It was made at a tough time - mid-campaign. Yet it was a good one. The call is a show of strength. While no one alleges malice, there have been too many slips. Sometimes enthusiasm and zealous support - and this goes for Trump and Rubio also - can cross an invisible line, where good intentions end up demonizing, unfairly diminishing, or personalizing a foe. Cruz said "enough."
As a man, it is clear that Senator Ted Cruz lives by high standards. His ethical and duty-focused approach to life is evident in his career. No one has ever questioned his business or legal ethics, his priority on faith, family and intellectual honesty. He has methodically attended committee and floor votes and meetings, and even pushed up against the limit of human endurance in filibusters over Obamacare. Now, having seen enough freelancing, he has fired his communications director. Good job. That was a tough call, but the right one.
Who knows if making tough staff decisions will help advance the winner of Iowa to win big in the coming primaries, as Reagan did in 1980, but one has to tip the hat to Cruz.
Making such tough choices - which sails to raise and which to lower, which to lash and which to unfurl - mid -storm - is serious business, and a sign of real leadership. Wherever the Cruz campaign goes from here, the rudder is clearly well-held, the compass bearing well-kept, and now the message likely to stay tight to the candidate and his priorities. A similar course re-set was needed in 1980. Now, let's see if the Cruz Campaign reaches the same destination that a re-set Reagan campaign did.
“Despite winning Iowa and placing strongly in New Hampshire and South Carolina...”
LOL!
Meanwhile Jeff Roe is still on the payroll...
It's wasn't Ted's tweet.
I actually called his Houston campaign office and demanded he fire the guy.
..told them that idiot Beck wasn't helping our cause.
Another $2 for Trumpshill contractor.
Would political opponents place infiltrators and saboteurs in a campaign?
The comparison to Reagan is kind of funny, since it was GHW Bush who won Iowa in 1980, then went on to lose just about everything else. :D
Better than working for Ted, who pays in soccerballs.
How stupid are the people of Iowa?
Me too. Apparently enough of us to get it done.
Looking to all the screw-ups Tyler did, he could very well have been a double-agent. What better way to purposely paint a negative picture that Communications Director?
Anyone think sabotage would be above New York values?
Lol...who is this guy kidding?
I have nothing against Trump,as a candidate and so far believe that I could vote for him or Cruz, however it shakes out, but I am having a big problem with the way Cruz’s bona fides as a staunch conservative are being questioned on FR, when for so long he was our lonely standard bearer in Congress, at his own personal cost. This makes no sense to me, that for so long he took heat all by himself from his felllow congressmen for trying to uphold conservative standards when they were betraying them, but all that seems forgotten now.
Tyler was Newt Gingrich’s guy for over a decade. He has a solid reputation in the industry... THE INDUSTRY, mind you, of career politics, of which Ted is also a part.
I know it’s fun to try and pin everything on Trump, but blaming Trump for the Cruz campaign’s errors is just refusing to accept that your preferred candidate made mistakes in judgement. It happens, it was his first run. He picked a bad campaign manager too, and I assure you that Jeff Roe and Axiom Strategies are also not Trump “plants”.
There’s always next time.
[Beck wasn’t helping our cause]
I agree.
How long did it stay up after you called?
The reality is Trump is in the Driver's seat.
Super Tuesday will be a good indicator if he can make it a two-man race.
I'd say vote Cruz in your Primary if that is your inclination and then support Trump at the Convention if Ted drops out.
“Despite winning Iowa and placing strongly in New Hampshire and South Carolina...”
*****************
Well Cruz did get eight of the 27 delegates. Not 50% but ...
says the party is split as to whom they feel the most comfortable with.
8 Cruz
7 Trump
7 Rubio
3 Carson
1 Paul
1 Bush
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