Posted on 03/02/2016 7:55:01 AM PST by HamiltonJay
I have offered my analysis of this race here, as I see it for a while now... My analysis for quite some time has been this thing is Trump's to lose.
In spite of this, I have never been someone who hated Cruz, on most of his policy stands I agree with him. However, when analyzing him overall I have felt that he cannot effect major change, because despite what he says, he is taking money from the same folks who have been screwing over this country to pad their pockets as the rest of the establishment... I have also believed, and still do, that Cruz is a weak general election candidate, who would win already red states by larger margins, but generally lose swing states because he preaches to the choir not the general electorate, and he is probably the easiest candidate for Hillary to paint as the Boogieman.
My latter opinion remains my opinion, the prior though last night Cruz showed, unequivocally, to be fact.
Last nights speech Cruz delivered the establishment message, 100%. Hillary Clinton was not the enemy, Donald Trump is. He went on to attack Trump and preach that he must be stopped at all costs. That's the establishments argument, that's not putting America first, that's putting the establishment first. With that speech, with every bitter and spiteful sentence that came out of his mouth Cruz showed he is the establishment. He is not an agent of change.
I ask those that support Cruz to go listen and watch that speech, the words from Cruz's mouth through that entire speech could just as easily been coming from Rubio, McConnell, Hatch or Karl Rove. Close your eyes and listen.. he literally delivered the establishment line hook line and sinker.
For those of you backing Cruz, because you honestly believe he will and can be an effective agent of change against the establishment, just go listen to the speech, close your eyes and tell me that you can't see any or all of the names I have just mentioned delivering the exact same message.
Last night Cruz lost all integrity on any claim to not being the establishment and able to fight and effect change. He has now laid bare he is with them, 100%.
Trump is not the enemy, Hillary is.
“That speech was completely on message from Cruz’s OWNERS.”
Yeah, he’s gotta keep those sheckels coming in. Just disgraceful!
I did not accuse Cruz of stealing, or doing anything unbecoming. You made a generalized accusation about the association of Trump with power brokers in this country. That feeds into the idea that wealth is a bad thing, not something to aspire to. It was people and big companies like Ford, Lockheed, etc, etc, that helped us succeed in WWII and the cold war. The govt came to industrial leaders for the answers. Now to be associated with this is bad???
On the other hand, I pointed out that ALL the alternatives, except Carson, are beholden to people who don’t create, but live off the Fed enforced redistribution of my hard earned currency. This is not a personal indictment of Cruz, just a fact.
agree 100%
“He’s been running for president for his entire adult life.”
Nothing wrong with that. It’s a great ambition to be President. I’m all in favor with people growing up wanting to be President. I’m not in favor of people who pull cheap political stunts like Cruz’s filibuster or his government shutdown, neither of which has a snow balls chance of accomplishing anything.
Agree with what you have stated. Since, in all likelihood, a much greater number across the county would have been watching the broadcasting of these post-Super Tuesday rah-rah speeches (and in Trump’s case, a press conference, which IMHO came off as quite well done), I saw it as Cruz taking advantage of the opportunity to speak to a much larger audience. However, I cringed as he went on and on throwing blows to Trump, when again, IMHO, he could have focused so much more on his own candidacy and why voters ought to support him.
“So Cruz controls the civility of the Trumpians on FR?”
Cruz can’t even control his eight year old daughter for a photo op.
Cruz is Cruz, nasty divorcee lawyer, wannabe Preacher.
“change agent”? Are you serious? Name the last President who was a “change agent”
Answer: none - don’t be so naive.
I agree... but the heat of the moment...
Yes, I watched it, the whole thing. I was amazed, as I watched Cruz literally undermine all the work he’s done to try to argue he can and will fight the establishment. That’s been one of the pillars of his campaign, he’s worked for years to portray himself as a guy who fights the establishment... and I watched him literally to me throw that argument out completely with that speech.
The Cruz supporters here seem to think I am amazed that Cruz attacked Trump. I have no issue that Cruz attacked Trump, its politics, that’s how this works.... what was amazing to me was Cruz has built a large part of his campaign message and personal around “I am a change agent, I can and will fight the establishment”... Then when he got a big moment in the sun last night... and lets not take anything away from Cruz, he got 3 states last night, 2 he was not expected to win, and how do you spend that moment in the sun? You literally deliver the establishments message! You spend that opportunity delivering the exact message of the establishment you claim you will and can fight and are not beholden to! It was astounding to watch.
It was almost as astounding as watching Rubio shoot himself in the head debating Christie.
This isn’t about Cruz attacking Trump, this is about Cruz literally undermining one of the key pillars of his campaign. You cannot argue you are an agent of change against the establishment after you just went on national TV and delivered verbatim the establishments message. It is impossible for Cruz to now claim with any credibility that he can and will fight the establishment... He literally parroted every establishment talking point on that stage last night.
It was mind boggling to watch.
Are you in some sort of denial that Cruz is a conservative?
Are you not aware of all the conservative stances and positions Cruz has held?
Are you not aware of all the campaign donations, bankruptcies, ties to big banks, and videos of Trump calling republicans the "dumbest bunch of voters"?
You think Cruz was bad in his speech last night, you should have heard him on Hannity radio earlier in the day. Hannity gave Cruz 30 minutes on the show to say whatever he wanted. Hannity did not utter a peep. Cruz was pure acid and his statements were factually incorrect and grossly so.
I listened and concluded that Cruz will lie and cheat to get to where he wants to go. Before Cruznadians rant that it is ok when Trump does it but not when Cruz does it, the point here is that the real Cruz has surfaced and was always there. Cruz is a sweet talker but underneath he is a snake in the grass and a lethal ne at that.
I am not naive in the least, Cruz has presented himself as the guy who can fight the establishment. That’s been a pillar of his campaign from day one. He just threw all that work under the bus with that speech last night.
Whether or not he was is not the point, he just made it impossible for him to make that claim going forward.
No, being a NY real estate developer - in one of the most challenging and rewarding cities in the world - is not selling lemonade on the corner.
Of course he used money from the banks - just like most of us do with our mortgages, just like most businesses do. There is nothing sinister about that.
What is bad is taking money from them for protecting them from underhanded deeds - like the rats and the GOPe have been doing for years. How about taking money from them to enable them to enhance their power in the world...like when Goldman Sachs hands out money
He IS owned by GS. Also you forgot about him handing out soccer balls and greeting fellow anchor babies.
“cRuz has exposed himself fully, as a Romney/Open Borders operative.”
A false front Bush construct IMO. Those are his and his wife’s roots. Just another neocon, painted red white and blue, but gray underneath. Even Lindsey Graham is OK with Cruz at the end of the day. That truly says all that is needed.
As a Cruz supporter, I think Ted should have spent more time congratulating Trump and acknowledging the huge number of good people who in their righteous anger are attracted to a man that exudes anger. Ted needs to make a better case that he is the best instrument to satisfy that anger in a way that doesn’t further damage the Republic.
In the end, Ted will need those people if he is to prevail in the primaries and against Hillary.
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