[nathanbedford]

The real issue is why would anyone prefer a renegade Democrat over a committed conservative? The real question is not whether Carson's demise, which you accurately predict, will benefit Cruz but whether Trump's campaign damages Cruz' campaign?

If a conservative has a choice between Trump and Cruz, that is if by fiat at we could decide who will win the nomination and the general election, it is incomprehensible that he would choose Trump.

It is impossible to compare Trump's bona fides as a conservative against Cruz because Trump has none. It is dangerous to assume that Trump with his appalling negatives can win the general election. It is frightening to consider when Trump might do if actually elected.

This is not to do only with trumps inherent narcissism, his boorishness, his biography, his position at flip-flops on issue after issue which are repugnant to conservatives, it has to do with his absence of a political philosophy beyond the world according to Trump and that makes him dangerous if elected and dangerous to the conservative cause if conservators permit conservatism to be associated with his name.

[springwater13]

Honestly, my personal opinion is Trump/Cruz is the winning ticket. They balance each other great. I like Cruz a lot but Trump is my guy.

[Greetings_Puny_Humans]

If a conservative has a choice between Trump and Cruz

True conservatives must choose Trump. Cruz is not honest about his positions on amnesty. And he screwed us on Fast Track, and there's a good reason to think it wasn't because he was deceived. His wife works for Goldman Sachs and was a member of the CFR. Cruz lied or has a weird definition for "conservative" when he claims she was a "conservative dissident" when working for them. She supported their policies, but just "dissented" in that she thought the Mexican economy should be fixed with business friendly practices.

[BobL]

Sorry, but about the only candidate that won’t get WALKED OVER by the Democrats once in office is Trump. The best that Cruz, Carson, Santorium, or anyone else can do is what the Bush’s did, which was keep the seat warm in the Oval Office until the next Democrat got elected and moved the country further left.

And even Trump haters know that much is true.

[Laslo Fripp]

Your thoughtful posts always intrigue me, BUT, you are wrong about this.

Cruz is a politician; Trump is a businessman. Neither is a leader.

Right now, this country needs a businessman in charge. If he turns out to be a leader, GREAT!

[VanDeKoik]

That’s cute. All of the appeals to conformity.

Now tell us again why everyone needs to stampede to a person consistently in single digits? Because if this political enviorment is so though that he cant break out, or make ant efforts to, then what are you going to do in he general?

[Lake Living]

Finally, a voice of reason and sanity! I would add that America’s problems are moral at the heart of things. Strong families, strong education, strong Christian faith. Without these NO politician will turn our nation around. What are the institutions of any nation that create and instill character and integrity in the lives of its citizens? They are generally, places of worship, strong families, strong communities and effective educational institutions. Look what the left has done to these in our nation and tell me are better off for it. You can’t.

The reason people don’t want to go there is that the idea of the Lordship of God over our lives rubs them the wrong way. “Don’t put your morality on me, scumbag!” So, Trump might make America stronger financially. Great! So we can be rich perverted and godless. Little girls can wear designer undies to the shower rooms instead of their old ones where they can be oogled by boys who swear they are girls. OThe idea of family will become an historical relic that we laugh about and we will continue to love ourselves as we think our neighbors should love us. The corruption and filth will continue to spread. We will continue to have cowards that will lead us to surrender more and more of our liberty until we are enslaved by other nations or, today, individuals, that may have a different ideology but who understand these things and will use them against us. I could go on but I think everyone gets the point. We are living in Sodom. Cruz will not save us but he may delay our destruction for a couple more years. He is a once in a life time candidate and our choice of candidate will say a lot about what we value in our nation.

[luvbach1]

...if by fiat at we could decide who will win the nomination and the general election, it is incomprehensible that he would choose Trump.

It is not incomprehensible for Trump to have a better chance in the general election than Cruz; however, I agree with you that Cruz should be and would be the natural choice of conservatives.

[Kartographer]

"incomprehensible that he would choose Trump"

Needs repeating!

"incomprehensible that he would choose Trump"

Did I mention it needs repeating?

[SE Mom]

Excellent post.

[jpsb]

" it is incomprehensible that he would choose Trump."

What is really incomprehensible is for a conservative to choose anyone other than Trump. Only Trump says he will enforce existing immigration laws. No one other that Trump promises to do that, Not Cruz, not Paul, not Carly not Carson, only Trump. And if our laws are not enforced soon the Marxist will take over the country FOREVER. Do you really want to give the Marxists in the uniparty 10-50 million new Marxists voters? If not then you have no other choice then to vote Trump. I am dumbfounded that some people that claim to be patriotic conservative Americans can seem to grasp the very simple idea that the invasion of Marxist Rats voters must not only be stopped is must be reversed (deport) in order to preserve the nation.

[American Constitutionalist]

All that doesn’t matter to the Trump supporters nor his past.

All that matters is he is popular with all types of folks even with liberal Democrats, they will sell their souls for Trump to win.

All that matters ( even without core values ) is by golly he is a effective leader and gets things done.

There is a danger to those who are offered what they want to hear and bite into that fruit they despartly desire.

There are many who will give them what they want, but it ain’t good in the end.

Be careful of Kings offering delights and delicacies as gifts.

We were right about Obama in 2008 and we are right about Trump in 2015.