Ted Cruz makes first campaign appearance as presidential candidate in New Hampshire

Washington Post ^ | March 28 at 9:23 AM | Katie Zezima

[SoConPubbie]

MERRIMACK, N.H. — Sen. Ted Cruz hit the campaign trail as a presidential candidate for the first time Friday, proclaiming himself an optimistic, maverick outsider who will shake up Washington.

Cruz (R-Tex.), speaking at a rally at a VFW hall here and later at a dinner of young conservatives in Nashua, reprised one of the themes of his speech announcing his run Monday -- "reigniting the promise of America" -- and said the way to do that is by bringing back jobs after six years of stagnation.

"I am amazingly, powerfully, profoundly optimistic," he said. "I'm optimistic because of each of you, the men and women in this room who will not let freedom go."

In many ways, Cruz's first stop as an official candidate in New Hampshire was a lot like those he made before announcing. He laid out a list of things he wants to do if elected, including abolishing the IRS, creating a flat tax and repealing the Affordable Care Act. Cruz said this week that he will likely sign up for insurance through the law; his family got its insurance through his wife, Heidi, who has taken leave from her job at Goldman Sachs to campaign.

Cruz laid out a plan to both repeal and replace the health insurance law at the dinner in Nashua, likening his plan to the "tsunami of the Reagan revolution," when President Ronald Reagan cut taxes after his election in 1980.

"It is my intention the next two years every day to take the case to the American people that Obamacare is the biggest job killer in this country," he said. Cruz said that he believes health care reform is needed but that the result should look very different from the Affordable Care Act.

[SoConPubbie]

"If we must have an enemy at the head of Government, let it be one whom we can oppose, and for whom we are not responsible, who will not involve our party in the disgrace of his foolish and bad measures." - Alexander Hamilton "We don't intend to turn the Republican Party over to the traitors in the battle just ended. We will have no more of those candidates who are pledged to the same goals as our opposition and who seek our support. Turning the Party over to the so-called moderates wouldn’t make any sense at all." -- President Ronald Reagan "A thing moderately good is not so good as it ought to be. Moderation in temper is always a virtue; but moderation in principle is always a vice." - Thomas Paine 1792 "It does not take a majority to prevail, but rather an irate, tireless minority, keen on setting brushfires of freedom in the minds of men." - Samuel Adams "If ye love wealth better than liberty, the tranquility of servitude better than the animating contest of freedom, go home from us in peace. We ask not your counsels or your arms. Crouch down and lick the hands which feed you. May your chains set lightly upon you, and may posterity forget that you were our countrymen." - Samuel Adams

[SoConPubbie]

Ted Cruz Ping!

If you want on/off this ping list, please let me know.

Please beware, this is a high-volume ping list!

CRUZ or LOSE!

CRUZ or LOSE!

[Diogenesis]

Sen. Cruz is a Patriot and, perhaps, the only hope
for America.

Going after ObamaCARE/RomneyCARE will enrage the
GOP against him, because the GOP supports Obama
on this (and everything else).

[txrangerette]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gaIJYVjfw2M

Yesterday, Cruz’s speech to Young Americans for Freedom, in Nashua NH

[austinaero]

Cruz is exposing the “squish”-y party for all to see. That’s another reason the GOP elites hate him.

He wears their scorn like a crown...as well he should!

[Iron Munro]

Sooner or later the GOP and Communist party democrat party are going to merge like the AFL & CIO did.

Then regular people can focus on getting the Conservative party fired up to oppose the republicrat party.

[P-Marlowe]

Cruz did not go to Washington to make friends.

He went to Washington to make waves.

[Hugin]

IMHO Cruz or Lose is a terrible slogan. Why plant the idea that Cruz will lose in peoples’ minds? How about Cruz to Victory?

[stephenjohnbanker]

“Sooner or later the GOP and Communist party democrat party are going to merge like the AFL & CIO did. “

Illegal immigration will necessarily force this to happen.

[stephenjohnbanker]

Cruz

Control

[alstewartfan]

Much better! lol Bob

[Artcore]

Sen. Cruz is a Patriot and, perhaps, the only hope
for America.

_________________________________________

And before it’s all said and done, he’ll end up being disowned by those who now praise him on this forum. There will be none pure enough, perfect enough, or conservative for some who frequent this forum.

Mark my words, Ted Cruz will be disowned by those who now praise him.

[Hugin]

“Cruz Control”

That sounds like he’s going to set up a police state. Libs would love that.

[Unmarked Package]

"IMHO Cruz or Lose is a terrible slogan. Why plant the idea that Cruz will lose in peoples’ minds? How about Cruz to Victory?"

That is a good observation and an excellent suggestion for an alternative, especially in light of the story Ted Cruz recounted in his speech to the Young Americas's Foundation at their Freedom Conference yesterday in NH.

Watch the video of Ted's great speech and Q&A referenced in the post above by txrangerette. Beginning at time mark 28:20 Ted describes a snarky twitter message from liberal activists (You Cruz, you lose) at his appearance in NYC two years ago, and the massive twitter bomb response of "Cruz to Victory" from conservative and libertarian activists. I like it for my tagline.