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Rivals, critics doubt Ted Cruz’s credentials at their peril
The Tampa Tribune ^ | March 29, 2015 | Tom Jackson

Posted on 03/29/2015 6:44:20 PM PDT by 2ndDivisionVet

As we have discovered since he jetted from the starting blocks as 2016’s first declared presidential candidate, Ted Cruz seems to be a lot of things: scholar, radical (or patriot), genius (or know-it-all), upstart, loner, throwback (or traditionalist) and all-around lightning rod.

Unproven, however, is that Cruz, a devoutly conservative Republican, is not qualified to seek the presidency, which was the position staked out by feather-trigger snipers even as Liberty University students showered his announcement with standing ovations. (Yes, they sort of had to be there, but they didn’t have to be enthusiastic about it.)

Cruz, 44, is a first-term senator with limited executive experience who started running for president almost (?) before he was sworn in 26 months ago. He betrays no appetite for the difficult work of legislation, appears to have no true friends on Capitol Hill and gives every sign he considers the Senate a launching pad.

What Cruz does have is a proven intellect, a silver tongue, an intriguing personal narrative, a well-formed political philosophy and a passion for unleashing it — while correcting the nation’s wayward course — from the Oval Office. Oh, and just this moment he’s given a hamster’s chance in a den of boa constrictors of becoming his party’s presidential nominee.

Taken together, the qualities affixed to Cruz describe, word-for-word, Barack Obama as spring dawned on 2007. Well, except for the proven intellect part. We simply conceded Obama had to be bright, despite an absence of documented evidence. Obama’s university transcripts remain sealed tight, and classmates or professors proclaiming his unique smarts seem lost to witness protection.

Cruz, meanwhile, has both the book-learning bona fides — he sprung from Princeton and Harvard Law School cum laude and magna cum laude, respectively — was a one-man Kentucky of the university debate scene and, says legendary Harvard law professor Alan Dershowitz — a liberal’s liberal — is “off the charts brilliant.”

Cruz clerked for Chief Justice William Rehnquist and, as Texas solicitor general, he returned to the Supreme Court nine times to argue cases, each time incandescently, observers say. This is in no way to suggest the country will, or should, promenade again with an untested partner. Only that, in politics, weird things happen.

The real problem with Cruz isn’t that he doesn’t know what he’s talking about. The New Yorker’s Jeffrey Toobin, a grudging admirer, says his “comprehensive and comprehensible world view” informs “some very serious political arguments.” Yes, even on climate change. It’s not that he’s hypocritical, although if he’d opted for Medi-Share, the Christian health network, instead of Obamacare, it would have been a master stroke. And it’s not that he’s a lousy strategist, no matter what’s said about his filibuster that precipitated the government shutdown in September 2013. Every self-respecting Texan aches for his Alamo moment, and a year later Republicans dominated the midterms like Sam Houston at San Jacinto.

No, the real problem with Cruz is that he is absolutely certain he is right. About everything. Even for those on his side, the word for this quality, says wife Heidi, is “irksome.” To endure, he must learn to talk to, not at, those he needs to persuade.

To Cruz’s credit, he insults the right detractors, beginning with the usual suspects: California Gov. Jerry Brown, MSNBC, left-wing talking heads and elite journalists hammering out hit pieces for journals revered on Manhattan’s Upper West Side. But he also appalls the Republican establishment, who gave America Dole, McCain and Romney.

In other words, so far, so good. Whether this is the boast of the man on his tumble from a high-rise or some genius strategy, only the primaries will reveal.


TOPICS: Constitution/Conservatism; Culture/Society; Government; Politics/Elections; US: Texas
KEYWORDS: 2016election; cruz; election2016; media; obamacare; tedcruz; texas
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1 posted on 03/29/2015 6:44:20 PM PDT by 2ndDivisionVet
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To: 2ndDivisionVet
I wonder what they're going to come up with?

My bet: they'll find some woman that he tried to kiss back in first grade. The MSM will go berserk, absolutely nuts with it.

2 posted on 03/29/2015 6:48:51 PM PDT by Steely Tom (Vote GOP for A Slower Handbasket)
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To: Steely Tom

What they’ll go nuts with more is figuring out what to do when his supporters don’t care


3 posted on 03/29/2015 6:54:32 PM PDT by stanne
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To: 2ndDivisionVet

“the real problem with Cruz is that he is absolutely certain he is right. About everything.”

And how is that any different from Ocarter? I’ve never seen a more smug, self-assured person.


4 posted on 03/29/2015 6:56:26 PM PDT by mtrott
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To: Steely Tom

Nothing, my friend. This man has been preparing for this moment all his life. He is what he is—he’s the real deal.


5 posted on 03/29/2015 6:56:50 PM PDT by VinL (It is better to suffer every wrong, than to consent to wrong.)
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To: 2ndDivisionVet

Destiny!


6 posted on 03/29/2015 6:58:41 PM PDT by P-Marlowe (Saying that ISIL is not Islamic is like saying Obama is not an Idiot.)
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To: 2ndDivisionVet

Father God,

We stand on the promises of Psalm 91 for Ted Cruz and his family.
https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=psalm+91&version=NIV

May no arrow formed against him prosper.

In Jesus name we pray. Amen.


7 posted on 03/29/2015 7:11:30 PM PDT by stars & stripes forever (Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord.)
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To: 2ndDivisionVet
When I listen to Cruz talk about issues he reminds me more of Ronald Reagan than Reagan did. If he can imitate Reagan's optimism for the future of this country, he'll lap the field.

He will blow past Hillary or anyone else the Democrats can heave against him like they were nailed to the ground.

8 posted on 03/29/2015 7:13:56 PM PDT by stevem
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To: SoConPubbie

Ping.


9 posted on 03/29/2015 7:15:34 PM PDT by upchuck (The current Federal Governent is what the Founding Fathers tried to prevent. WAKE UP!! Amendment V.)
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To: mtrott

Seems to me that would be a valuable characteristic for a POTUS and Leader of the Free World, as long as it focused on its benefit rather than its destruction. :-)


10 posted on 03/29/2015 7:24:31 PM PDT by GlockLady (re: What has Sen.Ted Cruz done?)
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To: 2ndDivisionVet

“the real problem with Cruz is that he is absolutely certain he is right. About everything.”

Other than being a bit soft on deportations he does seem to have EVERYTHING nailed down correctly.

So what’s the issue? Does he have to act introspective or something if he says extended Unemployment Benefits lead to lazy job seekers?


11 posted on 03/29/2015 7:24:57 PM PDT by BobL (REPUBLICANS - Fight for the WHITE VOTE...and you will win (see my home page))
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To: 2ndDivisionVet

I stand with Ted


12 posted on 03/29/2015 7:32:35 PM PDT by Nifster
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To: 2ndDivisionVet

I am looking at several of the GOP candidates. To see who I am for. Not Bush, Christie, or Huckabee, but several of the others. Ted is one of those. And, I have never seen such a derangement syndrome from the other side after an announcement. Amazing. Ted has them spooked, bigtime...


13 posted on 03/29/2015 7:37:27 PM PDT by BigEdLB (We're experienceing the rule of a Roman Emperor, Barack I)
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To: 2ndDivisionVet

No, they didn’t have to be enthusiastic - and several of them were just sitting there - you could see the audience behind Cruz, and there were a few who didn’t seem to be participating.

And .. I believe the President of the school said as much. The students do not have to applaud or stand, they just have to be there.


14 posted on 03/29/2015 7:38:11 PM PDT by CyberAnt ("The hour has arrived to gather the Harvest")
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To: The Final Harvest

They run three of those a week, which the media usually “forgets” to mention that.


15 posted on 03/29/2015 7:40:34 PM PDT by 2ndDivisionVet (You can help: https://www.tedcruz.org/donate/)
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To: mtrott
The difference is, that he IS right - and the Manchurian Candidate only thinks he is.

"I am an American fighting man. I serve in the forces which guard my country and our way of life.
I am prepared to give my life in their defense."

16 posted on 03/29/2015 7:40:39 PM PDT by ConorMacNessa (HM/2 USN, 3/5 Marines RVN 1969 - St. Michael the Archangel, defend us in Battle!)
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To: BigEdLB

Reagan had them so spooked they didn’t know what to do, so they reported him more or less straight. I think they were certain that if they just let him talk, the voters would run to Carter.

Didn’t work out that way. They won’t do that again.

If Cruz wins (or Walker, for that matter) it will only be by taking a huge chunk out of the MSM’s butt. I’m not saying he won’t do it, either. What I’m saying is that Cruz will be running against the MSM to a larger extent than he will be running against whichever goblin the Democrats nominate.


17 posted on 03/29/2015 7:42:24 PM PDT by Steely Tom (Vote GOP for A Slower Handbasket)
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To: 2ndDivisionVet

Yeah, the media seems to forget a lot of things.


18 posted on 03/29/2015 7:43:33 PM PDT by CyberAnt ("The hour has arrived to gather the Harvest")
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To: GlockLady

It works for pilots and surgeons.

It’s the first thing either are taught in their socialization.

People always complain about them in the USAF.

Worked with both

I tell people, it’s not that they’re jerks, it’s that they have a job to do that they’ve prepared for and they appreciate it when those they work with are prepared for their own jobs.

that’s all.

they don’t tolerate dishonesty - there is no time. No room for distrust.

When people like this choose a team, their discernment can appear snobbish, but it’s just excellence.

BSers like those in the media have no stomach for it. And they fade next to it.


19 posted on 03/29/2015 7:49:09 PM PDT by stanne
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To: Steely Tom

I think so too. This election will be about foreign policy, and though there are differences between Walker and Cruz domestically, There is not much daylight between them on foreign policy.


20 posted on 03/29/2015 7:49:13 PM PDT by BigEdLB (We're experienceing the rule of a Roman Emperor, Barack I)
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