Any Trump Attacks on Cruz Probably Aren't Going to Work Like They Did with Others

Reaganite Republican ^ | 14 December 2015 | Reaganite Republican

[Reaganite Republican]

After breezily dispatching (Walker, Perry) and/or permanently crippling 
(Bush, Rand Paul) a number of weaker GOP challengers who dared to get-up-in-his-grill, Donald Trump is now making noises about going after Ted Cruz... but if he does, this time it's likely to be different.

First off, he looks like a disingenuous hypocrite to attack Ted Cruz after allying himself with him so closely to this point, saying nice things repeatedly, and claiming they think almost identically. He's clearly taking a huge risk in alienating the Republican base.

Trump has claimed he's only going to get into tangles with Cruz 'if he comes after me first', but with the media egging him on now daily The Donald seems to be attempting to stoke some open friction. This really does make him look like the politician he always claims not to be... Trump's all but said himself he has no reason to attack Cruz but for personal political gain-- how deeply cynical to not even hide it.

Truth is, Cruz's base of support consists of Evangelicals unlikely to be charmed into voting for Trump... as well as many voters like myself who agree with a lot of what Trump says -and think he's done the process a lot of good- but long ago decided Cruz was a better presidential candidate, one with a still-more-conservative platform. I'm not a Trump 'hater' at all, but there is nothing he could possibly say or do that would have me taking him over Ted Cruz in the primary.

For all the talk about how loyal Trump voters are, the support Ted Cruz has earned to this point has him out-front by ten points in Iowa now... and all of those people have already had a long, hard look at Donald Trump.

When Trump attacked those with fragile support, it was an entirely different situation that he faces in going after Ted Cruz... I'd say he's even going to have a hard time coming up with material/dirt on Senator Cruz -without sounding like Mitch McConnell- the guy is clean as a whistle and a true Reaganite... not much to pick apart there, nothing any conservatives would give a hoot about, anyway.

On top of that, Cruz probably won't take the bait, either...

[major-pelham]

Ted Cruz is an excellent, excellent lawyer with a specialty in the Bill of Rights. Trump is an excellent, excellent businessman with a specialty of private entrepreneurialism. They are both America First on Natl. Security. The fumbling, sputtering American economy is going to be the issue to separate the two. Cruz will lose on that - big.

Electability will be next and Trump with crossover appeal and Cruz with only the right will lose on that - big. Cruz a professional debater and former Texas Solicitor General will destroy Trump on ‘eruditeness’. Cruz is terrific, principled, a man to be admired. Trump has the stamina, acumen and resources to outlast him. We should not fight amongst ourselves and destroy each other - let the two titans make their case and see who wins. We’ll all need each other a year from now.

[catfish1957]

He already did. He used a GOPe attack.

When the dust finally settles, I wouldn't be surprised to find out Trump was a democratic plant.

He does have the roots.

[elhombrelibre]

I think a Trump presidency would be predominantly this type of behavior. It seems to be very much a part of how he operates.

[Cringing Negativism Network]

I don’t agree with that assessment at all.

Not at all.

Both sides need to settle down for now.

We can fight later. But now is not the time for this crap.

[Dr. Sivana]

If he manages to win the nomination they will drop him like a bad habit, and you people will be spending months bitching and moaning about the lack of party support, and how so and such operative is sabotaging Cruz.

We don't expect party support. Reagan didn't really get it either. As top of the ticket, Cruz won't be reliant on Nicole Wallace and Steve Schmidt types to run the campaign.

Intraparty attacks can be used as evidence that Cruz is still very much an outsider.

[Servant of the Cross]

Like you like to say ... Trump is the ONLY ... one sniping.

[Cringing Negativism Network]

Well it appears to me, that the Cruz supporters at least at this site, are the ones sniping at the moment.

Both sides need to dial down all of the sniping.

Again for now. It may or may not be, the two actually go at it some time. But not now.

[gusty]

You may be right. Someone tracked Trump's more controversial utterances, and they occur simultaneously when the Democrats need to stay out of the news cycle. Obama gives disastrous national address, Trump rides to the rescue the next day. Big news on the Hillary e-mail front, Trump will say something to take her out of the conversation.

[babygene]

“Trump will not attack Ted Cruz.”

I agree with you. I don’t think he will either, the two need each other to prevent a brokered convention.

[jpsb]

"Cruz voted for the TPA, for the expansion of H1B visas and refuses to say if he is in favor of giving legal status to illegals."

Cruz has stated he is in favor of legal status for illegals (amnesty).

[catfish1957]

Like you like to say ... Trump is the ONLY ... one sniping.

Exactly....

Big difference in saying an opponent has used poor judgment on one policy in a private conversation versus another screaming on national television that his opponent is a maniac.

Trumpets are good at double standards.

[DoodleDawg]

Trump will not attack Ted Cruz.

He's already begun to. On the Sunday shows yesterday.

[gusty]

This is from a guy who posted in the past that he personally supported Obamacare. Do you remember that one.

[odawg]

“...and trust me, it was made public on purpose by Cruz to elicit just this kind of idiotic response from Trump.”

Cruz was asked about the statement at the Heritage Foundation twice. The first time he ignored the question, and the second time, according to Jamie Dupree on Hannity, he came out with a “non-denial denial”. There was nothing bold about that response, it is more of a hand-caught-in-the-cookie-jar type behavior.

What Trump said about Cruz is mild compared to what some of his Republican Senate colleagues say about him.

“idiotic response”? The only acceptable response for Cruz supporters from Trump would be for Trump to agree with what the noble Cruz said.

[Cringing Negativism Network]

More specifically I do not support the health care mess, we had previously.

It had far too many holes, for the coverers to duck into to avoid covering people.

I don’t so much support Obamacare, as I want our coverage to be complete. Everyone. For everything.

That is not what we had, and that is why it was possible for Obamacare to be foisted upon America.

I think we should improve upon the mess of Obamacare, but that is not what we had. What we had was even worse.

[VanDeKoik]

“We don’t expect party support.”

Then I dont know what on Earth you guys think Cruz is going to run on.

He has ZERO media presence.

His online strategy is a joke compared to Trump or what the Democrats WILL have.

He will not be able to out-raise Hillary nor self-finance

He has no cross-over appeal. Add that to no GOP support (many will be actively working against him), and little to no real solid name-recognition to most voters, how does he expect to compete with Hillary’s Super PACs, media machine, and online armies?

How does he expect to turn Va, NM, MI, WI, OH, or PA?

Talk radio, evangelicals, and prayer circles????

[gusty]

I am happy for you in this election cycle. You have finally found a candidate to vote for in the GOP primary who shares many of your leftward positions.

[Cringing Negativism Network]

I disagree.

I am for covering Americans, in their entirety, and I am for bringing back American jobs.

To America.

Those two principles are conservative, and I am proud to hold both of them.

[kidd]

Good article.

Trump and Cruz will have to discuss issues.
I favor Cruz, but like both of them.

[gusty]

With that logic, I guess the AFL-CIO is a conservative organization also.