Ted Cruz, Triumphant

The National Review ^ | February 1, 2016 | David French

[Cincinatus' Wife]

I tip my cap, unreservedly, to Ted Cruz. With everything on the line - and so many GOP colleagues cowed and intimidated - he took on Donald Trump and won. Late last year I wrote that the GOP needed an actual leader, someone who would step up and take on Trump directly:

Now is the time. A presidential campaign is an early test of leadership, a proving ground for dealing with the challenges of the world's most difficult job. I don't want the last man standing. I want the guy who took down the king. If Trump can absorb the best shots from the Republican party's best young talent, then he deserves the nomination. If one of the two talented freshman senators can dethrone The Donald, then at least we have some assurance that they can first stand strong against the coming Clinton onslaught and then have the strength of will to lead a nation desperate not just for wisdom but for the right kind of tough-minded leadership.

Cruz challenged the king of polls - the man who'd intimidated so many others - and he won. And he did so when the conventional wisdom said that he'd lose - that the larger the turnout, the greater the chance that Trump would win. Instead, with record Iowa turnout, Cruz won.

This is a deeply encouraging moment for the conservative movement. To his immense and undying credit, Cruz refused to pander on ethanol, he defied Iowa's popular governor, and he stuck to his conservative principles - and he won.

Yes, Marco Rubio exceeded all expectations, but tonight was Ted Cruz's night. There is much hard fighting ahead, but had Trump won, we would even now be shuddering not just for the future of the conservative movement but for the future of a nation bounded and governed by constitutional principles. Cruz stood up when others fled. Iowa rewarded him for his courage, and tonight Cruz is ascendant, Trump is in retreat, and the conservative movement breathes the air of new life and new hope.

New Hampshire represents a different challenge, and the race is far from over, but Cruz deserves the accolades - and momentum - he'll get from Iowa. Well done, Ted. You did your part for your country on this crucial night.

[Gaffer]

You guys can’t even take a “congratulations” and expression of support should Cruz get the nomination graciously.

My post said nothing about Cruz having faults. If anything it was anti-Rubio. If that’s why you snark back then bark it up another tree.

You hate Trump. I get that. I don’t hate Cruz. Big difference.

[elhombrelibre]

Your faith in Trump is beyond my ken based on his character, temperament, and treatment of others in matters of honesty and honor. We will just have to disagree on him and on Cruz.

[deport]

Iowa caucus delegate allocation.....

8 - Cruz
7 - Trump
6 - Rubio
1 - Carson, Paul, Kasich,
    Bush, Fiorina, Huckabee
0 - Christie, Santatorum

[don-o]

[demshateGod]

Thank you. I just watched the whole thing. I can’t imagine why any conservative would want someone else. Oh that’s right; every conservative who knows what’s at stake, and understands what conservatism is, has rallied around Cruz.

[EQAndyBuzz]

Maybe it’s me, but Cruz was supposed to win Iowa. It’s an evangelical state and that’s who Cruz appeals to. The only thing that muddled that was the MSM and Establishment trying to turn it into a race.

[demshateGod]

You don’t hate Cruz because he’s a real conservative. That’s to your credit, but Trump is a progressive. I don’t like progressives. They have destroyed America. Why would you vote for a progressive?

[bert]

BS

Trump is not a progressive

[demshateGod]

Mr. Tingles is having a trumpgasm?

[Cincinatus' Wife]

Too funny.

[demshateGod]

I used to think Trump supporters were just misinformed, I now realize they're willfully ignorant or worse.

[don-o]

Maybe it's me, but Cruz was supposed to win Iowa. It's an evangelical state and that's who Cruz appeals to. The only thing that muddled that was the MSM and Establishment trying to turn it into a race.

True. But, the "run the table" meme that was being widely trumpeted got obliterated. It's gonna be a true Fifteen Rounder.

[erod]

Nice!

[Gaffer]

I hope things work out for you. Based on how you act with a win, I’d hate to see you when you lose.

[EQAndyBuzz]

“True. But, the “run the table” meme that was being widely trumpeted got obliterated. It’s gonna be a true Fifteen Rounder.”

Like Iowa for Trump, NH is Cruz’s throwaway. At best I give Cruz 3rd place in NH. Will probably be Trump, Rubio and Cruz. At that point, everyone except those looking for a VP slot drop out.

[Leto]

Happy for you. However, Ted can’t compete in the general.
___________________________________________________________

Cruz leads Clinton in the general election polling.

[Lopeover]

Congress passed an exemption for McCain that allowed him to run. Media & democrats covered for Obama. Democrats are planning to stop Cruz. They are intending to prevent him from being allowed on the ballot. It is starting with Illinois.

[don-o]

I am hoping that Trump and Cruz will lay off each other and together hammer Rubio back into the single digits.

[Auslander154]

“They are intending to prevent him from being allowed on the ballot. It is starting with Illinois.”

It will go nowhere. Courts will rule against them for the proverbial ‘lack of standing.’ That’s how Obama escaped all the law suits against him.

[Diamond]

'U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz - whose father is Rafael Cruz, a rabid right-wing Christian preacher and the director of the Purifying Fire International ministry - and legions of the senator's wealthy supporters, some of whom orchestrated the shutdown...'

'rabid right-wing Christian preacher' - more objective analysis from leftist attorney Jonathan Turley.