Posted on 03/05/2016 6:44:16 AM PST by CapitalistCrusader
I was thinking about the republican primary and asking myself, "if conservatism is the answer and Ted Cruz is an exemplar of conservatism, why is he not doing much better at the ballot box so far?" Or, why is Donald Trump doing so much better? In my opinion, Trump is doing better because he is proposing solutions to our country's problems that are derived from common sense thinking.
For example, there are thousands of illegal aliens crossing the border with Mexico on a monthly basis. Trump's solution? Build a wall. This is not a new idea so Trump adds that he'll get Mexico to pay for it. Whether he can actually get Mexico to pay for it is not really relevant to his campaign. Politicians routinely make bold predictions of what they will do once elected and then never deliver. The point is that he mixes the common sense solutions with a degree of bravado that adds an air of the traditional rugged American. This theme of common sense solutions mixed with a little New York moxy has been pattern in his campaign thus far. This is what he has branded "Common Sense Conservatism."
Putting all the name calling aside, Trump and Cruz want to accomplish many of the same goals as POTUS. Secure the border, replace ObamaCare. reduce the size of the federal government, etc. So why is Trump resonating with more voters than Cruz? Because Ted Cruz is an elitist conservative. What is an elitist? An elitist is a person who believes that a society or system should be lead by an elite. Only a "true" conservative is able to select a proper justice for the supreme court. Only a "true" conservative can come up with the right plan to rein in the federal bureaucracy. Only a "true" conservative can fix the health care system. The list goes on and on. His demeanor suggests that only he, a "true" conservative, can properly lead, or is fit to lead our country out of the problems we currently face.
This is why a Ted Cruz campaign rally is reminiscent of a revival meeting. Ted Cruz is an elitist conservative. He is as much an elitist as Mitt Romney, as Jeb Bush, as Mitch McConnell, as Harry Reid, as Nancy Pelosi. He is simply a member of different elitist cabal.
But here's a new flash for Ted Cruz and Rush Limbaugh and Mark Levin. Conservatism comes in many flavors, not just the true, doctrinaire, orthodox variety. There are many conservatives out here who are secualr, or gay, or lesbian, or even atheist. And we don't like to be preached to and proselytized.
I am a Trump supporter but I will vote for whomever wins the nomination legitimately. But all you elitists out there, of both the Republican and Conservative variety, should be aware that if you destroy Trump by invective you will be alienating a large swath of voters. If that happens I would expect turnout in the general to reach historic lows and Clinton to be the next POTUS. Is destroying Trump worth it?
You deign to tell me what I believe. How curious. You know little to nothing about me yet assume I support Trump, not a given, and credit a number of beliefs to me that are utterly false. As I said, “Opposition to Trump seems to be based completely on emotional reactions to hysterical perceptions and worse case scenarios.”
You first tried to explain to me how I came to my decision with that quote of yours you keep reposting.
Are only Trump supporters allowed the privilege of telling others what they think and how they got there?
Trump:
#7. I can negotiate.
#8. I can soften my position.
Yes, of course. I am completely irrational, guided only by my wrath and a burning desire to destroy. I follow worthless leaders who seek only their own self interests. Why else would I support a man widely reputed to be intemperate, chaotic, manipulative, immoral and otherwise depraved? You perfectly encapsulate the attitudes of both the GOPe and the Democrat party, my sworn enemies. I have noticed, nonetheless, that opposition to Trump seems to be based completely on emotional reactions to hysterical perceptions and worse case scenarios.
And no, I did not.
I don't think I actually posted a thread till over a year, just posted comments.
I was not talking about your handle, obviously it was not in use. ...was talking about "Enlightened1"
You're meme "Elite Republican" is nothing more than GOPe, Republican Establishment that we've been discussing for years.
Ted Cruz was anti-establishment before Donald Trump was even a Republican.
I am a Cruz supporter. I will vote for the Republican nominee. After decades of republican betrayal Trump came out first was swinging strong, was fearless against the media, and hit all the right notes to attract a large number of furious pubbies. And Trump is quite comfortable in the spotlight. This gave him a solid base he could build upon. Cruz declared a bit later. Cruz came out timidly and seemed very nervous early. Cruz was not personable nor very articulate early on and is only now finding his stride. He was clearly uncomfortable in the national spotlight. From a practical standpoint there is not much difference in the stated policy positions between Donald and Ted. I think together they would make a very strong ticket. My two cents.
My meme is “Elite Conservative” and I don’t recall having read that elsewhere. I could easily be wrong though.
Ted Cruz has been a part of the establishment for a long time. He was an advisor to Bush 43 in the 2000 presidential race and worked on the Florida litigation. After which he worked at the DOJ and the FTC. Then he became solicitor general of Texas. After a brief stint in the private sector he was elected to the US Senate. I’m sure you know all this, but this hardly qualifies as an outsider’s career.
No. A case could be made for the opposite though. A true-Christian should be conservative (as defined below) with their eyes on Christ foremost.
Conservative - Favoring traditional views and values; tending to oppose change.
Tradition - 1. the handing down from generation to generation of the same customs, beliefs, etc, esp by word of mouth
2. the body of customs, thought, practices, etc, belonging to a particular country, people, family, or institution over a relatively long period
3. a specific custom or practice of long standing
4. Christianity a doctrine or body of doctrines regarded as having been established by Christ or the apostles though not contained in Scripture
Source: American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition
And true-Christians are only ones that can recite Bible verse?
The devil can recite verses and has proved so. Taunting Jesus in doing so. Shakespeare perhaps immortalized this fact in his play Hamlet.
I don't have a problem with Trump being Trump. I do have a problem with Donald making something like his "favorite book" a campaign slogan that he has used numerous times as a ploy for votes. He had proven he has no idea what was contained in-between the covers. IOWs proving he was a fake once again. Using it as a regular campaign speech theme makes it fair game. From "Two Corinthians" to when he was asked what his favorite verse was and refusing to mention anything that proved what he said was truth in an interview (saying it was personal). Then later he does mention a verse (guess it wasn't that personal) that is nowhere to be found in the Bible. Like someone suggested, all Don had to do was write a cheat note on his hand for goodness sake.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xQR81t21b5Y
"Never bend to envy" - Trump (???)
Trump backed the Democrat party until 2013. He also backed the GOPe in 2014. Why are you attacking me with those charges?
Do not RINOs Juan MeCain, Lindsey Graham, Mitt Romney, Mitch McConnell all call themselves Conservatives?
I'm proud that Cruz has been a highly successful Republican Conservative lawyer, saving us from 8 years of Algore, defending America's 1st and 2nd amendment.
I do agree Trump's major appeal is he is not a politician.
What other Republican had the ball to call the Republican Senators Majority Leader a liar on the senate floor?
Cruz has core Conservative Principles & Values.
Ted Cruz was anti-establishment before Donald Trump was even a Republican.
Trump is a Chameleon by his own words, "I can be anyone I want."
Ted Cruz, Mike Lee, Jeff Session are the only 3 Republican that have fought Obama/Hillary/Kerry as well as Mitch McConnell.
O!Oh!OH! Trump has done a lot of things, including vigorously support the US and its interests. Again, your concerns are based on emotional reactions to hysterical perceptions and worse case scenarios. They are not based on an honest discussion of his platform.
Rafael Cruz’s strength is with conservative evangelicals and doctrinaire conservatives. In a caucus setting and closed primary Eduardo Cruz is a strong candidate. Take him out of that setting like the general election and he’s not much of a candidate with third and fourth finishes. Cruz cannot win a national election. Trump can.
So you are OK with Trump’s history of Democrat support? Disagreeing with that is a “hysterical emotional perception” in your eyes?
You need to spend some time objectively looking in to what he actually has done, rather than relying totally on the promises of the future. Buying into his promises while ignoring his past is the emotional response, not observing his actions.
You are unaware, apparently, of Trump’s substantial support for conservative causes and candidates since the early 80’s. How myopic of you. He has an eleemosynary track record in keeping with a businessman, not a politician.
You, apparently, are not willing to accept him at his word but suspect he may be deceptive. The man has a platform that you apparently are not willing to examine. Your opposition to him is based on suspicion and disbelief.
Turn the corner. Look for attributes you appreciate rather than anxieties you may harbor based on what someone told you about his prior support of causes you may not like. What about his support for causes you do like?
Chill out. Look for what is best, not what you fear.
He also supported liberal causes and candidates during that same time. You choose to be selective on his record. Anyone else would be called RINO or worse. But not Trump.
You choose to ignore his own words about getting people to believe things that will not happen in order to close the deal. “Tapping into their fantasies” he calls it. But let me guess, he only uses “The Art of the Deal” on others, not primary voters...
Trump tried and it backfired. Here in Mobile he even started his Mobile speech talking about how much he loved Billy Graham.
Saying that the Bible is his favorite book is not a campaign slogan.
After you repeat it enough it is.
I had bookmarked a video that had a compilation of Trump saying how much he loved the Bible (his favorite book). Dozens of times.
However, it seems you have no problem of Cruz calling on his supporters to wear "the armor of Christ".
Of course I have no problem with it, why should I?
How do you select a leader? Well to each his own I guess. There is guildlines in the Bible though for Christians.
Moses got these instructions.
"Look for able men from all the people, men who FEAR GOD, who are TRUSTWORTHY and HATE A BRIBE, and place such men over the people" - Exodus 18:21.
You can run Trump by each of those yourself. I did.
One pastor put in down as 5 guidelines.
1. Is the person "able". Faculty, power, strength, ability, competence, capability, qualified for a task
2. Character... strong character, noble character.
3. Reverence for God.
4. Trustworthiness - truth, firmness, faithfulness, reliability, stability
5. Integrity in financial matters - hates a bribe, above reproach and whose hands are clean.
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I didn't realize we were electing the Pontiff of the United States.
No, just electing a person for perhaps the most powerful job in the world. You apply your criteria for voting, my family probable applies a whole different approach.
I imagine we have talked the subject to death. Have a good day PJ, you can have the last word if you so deem.
Why do you consistently believe you are smarter than me? I look at the same information and arrive at a different conclusion. What you are unwilling to do is accept that someone as intelligent and informed as yourself can arrive at a diametrically opposite position. The only conclusion I can reach is that you are blocked by emotional reactions to hysterical perceptions and worse case scenarios.
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