Cruz challenges Trump to one-on-one debate [at the Mark Levin show]

The Hill ^ | 01/26/2016 | Harper Neidig

[Neu Pragmatist]

Ok and where are the other candidates polling ?

[tophat9000]

I really think a Rush moderated Trump - Cruz round table could be very interesting...and health... we need a little alliance building else the bitterness could take us all down...

Rush is key as he has been very balance's between Trump and Cruz... The fact that Cruz and Trump fans both will dispute Rush is balance not bias proves the point

[poconopundit]

...No thank you, give me a businessman who has built a real estate empire over a 30 year career as a doer, over a slick talker, any day of the year.

Very well said!

The truth is that Cruz is not a very good lawyer: he just proved it with his foolish remark to Levin saying Trump is "scared" to do the Fox News debate.

Trump scared to debate?   Who's going to believe that, especially since Fox News was jerking his chain?   No, Trump did the kind of bold and courageous thing that real leaders do.

Besides, a smart lawyer would never intimidate an opponent like that.   Even if Cruz was right, it's a poor strategy because he's turned the advantage to Trump.   People will feel Cruz was being unfair.   Juries -- and voters -- notice these things.

Another point: why is Cruz asking for a one-on-debate?  There are several other candidates running for the GOP nomination.  Did he think about them?  Would it be fair for Trump to only debate Cruz?

Finally, Trump is not someone who lets insults pass without a counterpunch.   Wouldn't be surprised to see a few Twitter spears flying in Cruz's direction tomorrow morning.

So bad judgement all the way around for Cruz.

He has definitely lost my trust in the last month. If he should get the nomination and clear his "natural born" status, I would still vote for him, of course, but my backup choice to Trump is now Carson.

By insulting Trump's manhood,

[Albion Wilde]

who has built a real estate empire over a 30 year career

More like 55 years, since he worked for his father as a teenager.

[Bubbette]

Amen P-Marlowe. It’s been pretty depressing these past few weeks. Since I’ve been on FR, I have never seen so much coarse, rude, and downright hateful language against fellow Freepers. Reading through this thread I feel like crap’s been slung all over me.

[Pravious]

“Trump has it won, what winners gives the Loser a second shot?”

Yep. Trump had nothing to win by going to the debate. The “Trump is afraid of Megyn Kelly!” nonsense won’t fly because anyone who’s ever seen Trump (which, I think, is everyone on Planet Earth) knows the guy isn’t afraid of anyone (witness his utter stomping of the press tonight).

It’s a VERY unpredictable, ballsy move - and no one knows how it’s going to play out, but what an AWESOME step for a politician in the lead to take.

[Lonely Are The Brave]

One big Hail Mary on Rafael Eduardo Cruz’s part. He’s ready to go anywhere anytime to debate. His numbers man gave him his internal polling for Iowa and he’s lost. Been in business now he’s throwing the HAIL MARY. Cruz is toast.

[LibertyOh]

“Another point: why is Cruz asking for a one-on-debate? There are several other candidates running for the GOP nomination. Did he think about them? Would it be fair for Trump to only debate Cruz?”

Trump had little “debate” experience before the Republican debates, and thus far there have been so many on stage that exposure has been very limited. Going one-on-one would be very good practice if nothing else - whether you are for or against him. Dropping out of the debates will leave him unprepared for the give and take repeatedly for two hours that will occur this fall. Very foolish move, in my opinion. Yes, other candidates should still be involved at this point, but Trump was the one who pulled out of debating against a full panel.

[montag813]

I thought Cruz was right about “New York Values” and Trump was attacking a strawman,

Strawman is a VERY effective debating technique...and defensible if you can call your opponent on it. But Trump left Cruz NO ROOM to do so. Anything Cruz could have said would have made him look callous (towards 9/11 victims) or arrogant. Or as Allen West said, "Cruz needs to learn the tactic of the u-shaped ambush, because he walked right into it."

The proof is in the pudding...fair or not, Cruz' poll numbers have tanked since then. Just check RCP or Reuters, nationally and in Iowa to see the carnage.

[Pravious]

“Dropping out of the debates will leave him unprepared for the give and take repeatedly...”

He only dropped out of this next debate - not the rest of them.

[JohnBovenmyer]

Strange. Why then not so long ago were all the Trumpbots here suggesting Trump pick Cruz for AG or even place him on the Supreme Court, not to mention the long popular Trump/Cruz ticket vibe of many here. The only thing that’s changed about Cruz is Trump’s stated opinion of him. Donald would make a G*R*E*A*T Macy’s parade balloon. No helium needed. Except that Macy’s can’t get alone with him either.

[SeekAndFind]

RE: Anything Cruz could have said would have made him look callous (towards 9/11 victims) or arrogant.

There was not enough time to respond, but it was quite clear to those who saw that exchange that when Trump mentioned firefighters, cops and 911 responders that Cruz was APPLAUDING THEM.

Only those who refuse to think ( and there are many ) would think that Cruz was referring to these brave people when he was referring to “New York Values”.

In fact, he already articulated what he meant in that debate just a few moments prior to Trump’s “defense” of these people Cruz was CLEARLY NOT TALKING ABOUT.

[austinaero]

“Yes, that is because you are backing yet another lawyer, trained in debating, who has been nothing but a lawyer and a politician, both glib of tongue, for President. No thank you, give me a businessman who has built a real estate empire over a 30 year career as a doer, over a slick talker, any day of the year. You stick with yet another lawyer who has accomplished nothing in his political career as a Senator other than shutting down gov’t, at great expense to the taxpayers, while accomplishing nothing.”

EXACTLY

ANd how ‘brave’ is it for Cruz to challenge a private citizen to a debate?

Dumb

[SeekAndFind]

RE: Or as Allen West said, “Cruz needs to learn the tactic of the u-shaped ambush, because he walked right into it.”

A simple statement to respond to Trump would have helped — “Mr. Trump you are creating a strawman. I am not referring to these people and YOU are insulting them when you insinuate that I am.”

[SeekAndFind]

RE: Ok and where are the other candidates polling ?

I don’t know the answer to that, but this poll I am referring to is an AVERAGE of polls.

[Neu Pragmatist]

Ok ... they are all trailing Trump ... so it means nothing in the advancement of your attempt to trash Trump ... nice try though

[plewis1250]

https://www.gop.com/rnc-approves-debate-rul/

It actually would not be “illegal”, it would just disqualify the two from further sanctioned debates.

Of course, the committee could saction the debate, and problem solved.

[flaglady47]

“Other than condemning a lot of property to build his Real Estate Empire, what has Trump “accomplished”?”

He hasn’t “condemned a lot of property”. You lie. And that old lady Cruz keeps bringing up saying Trump condemned her property? He never did. When she didn’t accept his monetary offer, he let it go. And when she did finally accept an offer from someone, it was for a lot less than Trump was offering her at the time. She was holding out for the highest bidder, and lost the poker game, ending up accepting a lot less money for her efforts, hah. So you lie.

Next, what has Trump accomplished? He has hired thousands of people, giving them good jobs, many of them union jobs, so even the union guys (not their corrupt leaders) love Trump and will vote for him. And every day, in those buildings that he has had built and other entities he has created, thousands upon thousands of people are going into those buildings to work, or purchase goods at his malls (Trump Tower, etc.) and stay in his hotels, or to play at his golf courses, or to purchase his products that are made by hired and working people. And tons of people are out there spending money at his various enterprises; that money keeps our economy growing, even in spite of the lousy Obama Administration. Plus he has entertained millions of people on TV with his highly successful programs and brought the ratings (and thus money) to those TV stations.

Even the enemy newscasts have made money off of Trump because of ratings and they know it, which is why they keep putting him on their shows, in spite of the fact that many of them probably can’t stand him. They aren’t fools and know what side their financial bread is buttered on.

And you ask what has Trump accomplished? And you dare to compare him to a man who has so far in his career, been a glib lawyer and a politician who has accomplished very little other than cost the taxpayers a lot of money in a gov’t shutdown effort that he knew would go nowhere if you were honest about it?

I’m a pragmatist who wants to see good results. Cruz doesn’t get results, Trump does. You just keep those blinders on, while the doers in the world vote for Trump, and you vote for yet another loser. P.T. Barnum says a sucker is born every minute. You fit the bill. Sucked in by yet another lawyer, glib of tongue, even as he spouts lies, and conveniently forgets loans he took from the likes of Goldman Sachs, and big New York financial entities like CitiBank. And whose wife worked for Goldman Sachs to boot and is a globalist by trade. Go ahead and back yet another lawyer who is most likely not even a natural born citizen, again if you were honest about it. I’m betting most people don’t want that.

It is not the time for a Cruz in history. It is time for a strong leader who is unafraid to respond to his and our country’s enemies. That man is not Ted Cruz, with his Mickey Mouse speaking voice that does not instill confidence. Not what you want going up against Putin, the Ayatollah, or Hillary for that matter.

Cruz is young. He’ll have his chance at the big prize in the future, when he has more of a track record than a career as a lawyer and a first term Senator that has not produced much. His time is not now.

[Psalm 144]

Traditionally the challenged chooses the weapon. Perhaps see who can build a multi-story shelter for destitute veterans, or a checkpoint along the Canadian border?

You know, something concrete. Not wind. Square feet instead of footnotes.

[montag813]

A simple statement to respond to Trump would have helped — “Mr. Trump you are creating a strawman. I am not referring to these people and YOU are insulting them when you insinuate that I am.”

Yes. Exactly. I am not sure why Cruz didn't do that, but the audience reaction to Trump may have given him pause.