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We had the chance, and we blew it.
FreeRepublic ^ | 2/19/2016 | Washi

Posted on 02/19/2016 9:43:05 PM PST by Washi

It's appearing obvious that Trump will win South Carolina, and logic would tend to indicate that that makes him the odds-on favorite to win the Republican nomination (baring any GOPe dirty tricks at the convention).

While I will gladly vote for Trump over Clinton or Sanders, I'm still disheartened.

Ever since the last day of Reagan's administration, America has been in need of conservative leadership.

GHW Bush's squishiness gave us Clinton.

GW Bush barely won election. I'm glad he was in office after 9/11 instead of Gore, but he loaded us up with tons of debt and a lot of government growth. He also gave us Obama.

McCain was a squish and got his ass handed to him in Obama's first term.

Romney was a squish and got his ass handed to him in Obama's second term. Even Obama was surprised he won that one after the destruction he wrought in his first term.

Now, our chance has come.

On the democrat side, we have a nasty, entitled, corrupt, untrustworthy, unlikable, old hag and a grungy, mooching, old, socialist running for office.

On the republican side, we have a solidly conservative, well spoken, highly informed candidate that isn't afraid to stand up to the GOPe and fight for conservative causes. It's what we ALL have been waiting for.

We've ALL thought that we could win the presidency and right the wrongs of the past few decades of creeping socialism if we would just put a true conservative up as our nominee in the general.

Well, this is our chance. But, we're about to piss it away.

I think I understand the appeal of Trump. People are pissed and Trump has tapped into that. But this is a time for thinking, not feeling. Trump is a demagogue. People want to be on "Team Trump" because he's loud, proud, and unapologetic. But, Trump is also practicing a scorched Earth campaign of character assassination against Cruz in order to win the nomination for himself, and his whipped up supporters are dog-piling on anyone who dares to point out the emperor's lack of clothes.

Two years from now, when we discover that all of the red flags and warnings being blared by Trump's past positions and statements really are an accurate representation of Trump, and we find that "campaign" Trump was just that, we will kick ourselves when we realize that we had our chance, perhaps our last, to nominate the true conservative we had all been waiting for, and we screwed it up.

Turning a blind eye to Trump's liberal leanings just because he says the things we want to hear, and helps us express our dissatisfaction with the status-quo, doesn't make his leanings any less liberal.

We've said that electing a conservative could set us back on the right track.

We have, right now, a chance that we won't have again for a very, very long time. A chance to prove we were right.

But we're about to blow it.


TOPICS: Chit/Chat; Miscellaneous; Society
KEYWORDS: canadian; cruz; cruzorlose; dividedloyalty; dualcitizenship; election; ilovetowhine; squandered; trump; vanity; votecruz; waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah
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To: Washi

Well said. I cannot believe how many people have decided that Trump’s words don’t matter, his character doesn’t matter, his contradictions don’t matter, his previous positions don’t matter, his history of donations doesn’t matter, his betrayal of spouses and business partners doesn’t’ matter, his hubris doesn’t matter, his ignorance of government and foreign policy doesn’t matter, his mean-spirited approach to non believers in him doesn’t matter, his megalomania doesn’t matter, his liberalism doesn’t matter (youthful indiscretion, after all, he was only 65 then), and his disdain for his own putative party doesn’t matter.


201 posted on 02/20/2016 12:07:52 AM PST by elhombrelibre (Against Obama. Against Putin. Pro-freedom. Pro-US Constitution. Go Cruz.)
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To: dsc

4l8r


202 posted on 02/20/2016 12:09:11 AM PST by AFreeBird
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To: Washi

But we’re about to blow it.


Really? Wow gone from Washi Accords to full out must vote for Cruz or we have blown it...amazig what a campaign can do.

Sorry, I just don’t see it that way. I have had problems with Cruz and his positions long before primary season got in to full swing. Biggest one is his stand on H-1B Visas and immigration. I don’t consider it “blowing it” to vote for Trump.

I am very concerned about Defense, Terrorism, and Immigration, Vet affairs, Common Core and Balance of Trade—just to name a few. I think Trump is stronger and MORE CONSERVATIVE. These topics would not even be discussed if it were not for Trump, so I am grateful and as a conservataive, I don’t think I am blowing it.

Also, for a Born Again Christian, Ted Cruz sure dances close to the line if down right does not cross it regarding his version of truth—yeah, as a born again Christian, I hold those who claim to be Born Again and whose dad claims son is ordained to be Pres (Won’t even get into this. ) to a much higher standard than other candidates. Don’t need to cheat and play loose with facts and send out sketchy flyers if God wants you to be President. You pray and tell the truth. Period.

Frankly, I have not seen any flyers go out from Trump that are questionable (tho I actually received one from Cruz). Carson did not accuse Trump of changing the outcome of the election.

So I guess the accords are broken, but I don’t feel like I am blowing it...


203 posted on 02/20/2016 12:12:07 AM PST by Freedom56v2
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To: Outlaw76
Julius, perhaps, more like Augustus is my guess.

Nero and Caligula were the inbred, spoiled spawn whose fathers were missing ( same as Ted and Barry and Slick Willie's ) when they really needed them most and whose mothers told them how "wonderful" they were.

Trump's father was always there for him and Donald idolized him and wanted to prove his worth to him, which he did.

204 posted on 02/20/2016 12:12:16 AM PST by nopardons
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To: nathanbedford

I have over the years consistently been impressed by your posts. I’m surprised at how much we disagree on Trump and Cruz.

I am not a Christian so perhaps speaking about Christianity is not even appropriate for me to do, but just as a friend I want to share my impression. One of the wonderful things about the Christian religion is the forgiveness of its believers - by the Lrd, yes, but also by each other. This part is so well represented by the tale of the prodigal son and also in the song Amazing Grace.

Donald Trump doesn’t tell people he is holy and pure nor pretend to be closer to Gd than thee, but he does say, rather honestly, that he loves his religion and his church and he is a Christian. I’d never tell anyone he isn’t the region he honestly says he is. He seems like a real Christian with real sins and forgiveness, worshiping quietly in his way.

Ted Cruz is always very vocal about his Christianity, and often wears it like a holy mantle. Yet he has been in the last few weeks somewhat deceptive and somewhat less than honest in his campaigning. He literally said Trump would put his sister on the SC, and that Trump would hurt the Second Amendment, which were both provably false. There are a lot of examples.

When I, from outside the flock, look at the two Christians, I am embarrassed for Christianity that the one who professes his faith so very loudly is, once more, stereotypically, the one who doesn’t seem to practice its morality. The one who never owns his sins is the one who hurts both the flock and the reputation of the flock. It was the classic cheating, lying televangelist who spawned all those horrible anti-Christian characters in movies. I am so offended by the anti-Christian take in media, but here again we have the guy who acts like he bathes in holy water being the least “Christian” in behavior. I see the two men opposite from your view and I’m just sorry.


205 posted on 02/20/2016 12:16:05 AM PST by Yaelle
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To: Washi
But, Trump is also practicing a scorched Earth campaign of character assassination against Cruz

Cruz assassinated his own character.

206 posted on 02/20/2016 12:17:57 AM PST by jpsb (Never believe anything in politics until it has been officially denied. Otto von Bismark)
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To: bushwon
So I guess the accords are broken, but I don’t feel like I am blowing it...

Get back to me two years into the Trump administration.

207 posted on 02/20/2016 12:19:22 AM PST by Washi (All lives matter, or none do.)
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To: Washi

It’s not over until the fat lady sings.


208 posted on 02/20/2016 12:22:06 AM PST by Politicalkiddo ("If we would learn what the human race..is at bottom, we need only observe it in election time"-M.T.)
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To: Washi

It is, but you didn’t put VANITY anywhere in there.


209 posted on 02/20/2016 12:22:49 AM PST by onona (I've held my nose so long I can't even remember what an election smells like !)
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To: Washi

I will not vote for a progressive, no matter the party. Not Trumbama, Sanders, clinton. The constitution party looks good.


210 posted on 02/20/2016 12:24:12 AM PST by exnavy (good gun control: two hands, one shot, one kill.)
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To: nathanbedford
I saw your post #109.

It did not deal with the topic of the sleazy mailers, of which there have been at least two.

These mailers from Cruz, who I would be happy to see as President, were rather slimy, in my humble opinion.

Like I said, and again IMHO, pretending that Cruz, a politician, doesn't engage is political shenanigans during the course of a campaign is the height of naiveté...

211 posted on 02/20/2016 12:25:52 AM PST by sargon
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To: Washi

I’m not one of the people calling Cruz a liar or shady. I think he’s a true conservative, articulate and trustworthy. But seriously? The second coming of RR? No way. I remember a few years back hearing good things about Ted Cruz from Rush and I couldn’t wait to see who this conservative hopeful was. When I finally saw him being interviewed my reaction was utter disappointment because I found him totally unappealing. I wish it weren’t so, but he simply does not capture hearts the way Reagan did. At least, not mine. I have nothing against him, I don’t doubt his integrity or conservative credentials. But you have to understand that for the many of us who can’t seem to acquire a taste for Ted Cruz, it’s kind of hard to imagine him getting anywhere in the general, and it’s wrong to expect everyone to feel something we don’t feel. And it’s a little insulting and presumptuous to treat us like were fools for passing up this big chance for another RR. He is NOT anything like RR. I truly wish he was. Of course I’ll vote for him if he is the nominee.


212 posted on 02/20/2016 12:28:30 AM PST by enumerated
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To: Washi
"On the republican side, we have a solidly conservative, well spoken, highly informed candidate that isn't afraid to stand up to the GOPe and fight for conservative causes. "

I think you've got it wrong ... as to why people support Trump. And it goes directly to what you say above, perhaps it's the crux of the divide.

You think what's above is enough. That is, you are saying 'yay for my candidate, he IS all these great things'. But those things, in fact, get you nothing on their own. Who CARES if he's willing to stand up? Of course it's important, but it gets you nothing.

I think most of us who support Trump agree that Ted is all those things.

But we - at least I - make a bet -> no matter how much of a conservative super hero Cruz is, in 8 years, he will not have changed what needs to be changed.

On the other hand, I think you're also wrong about why we support Trump. Trump is not our middle finger. It's true that we're pissed, just like everyone else. But if you'r pissed, you can just as well vote for Cruz - if anything Cruz is more of a repudiation of both the Dems and the ERepublicans.

But my pissed off response is not to say FU with my candidate.

My pissed off response is obliterate what's pissing me off. Leaving me without the problem, and in doing so, sometimes you give up the right to be right.

We do not think Cruz can end the problem because we don't think the country will move with him or follow him. Pure conservatives without a baseball bat have failed. Correct understanding of cancer does not cure cancer. Eventually you need to take out a knife and use some pretty bad chemicals, and while even still it's risky, it's more effective than standing there diagnosing the cancer over and over, proclaiming how a healthy body should function, and then pleading with the cancer to fall in line with what you've just proclaimed.

It's true, Trump is sharp and stinky ... like a knife and chemicals.

Who thus far has been more effective in building the wall against one version of cancer? Who has been more effective in moving the country toward banning another? Though I'm not for overly protectionist trade policies, who has been most effective so far in keeping the good cells in?

I don't need to disparage Ted to support the candidacy of Trump slightly over his. Mere intellect, credentials and even commitment to curing cancer amount to nothing. You need to start eliminating it faster than it's metastasizing. Right now, while I think Ted would be effective, I don't think he stands a chance at eliminating the cancer faster than it's spreading. We might lose a limb under Trump, but limbs can be regrown, and I think that's why you see us accepting a little more BS from Trump than we would in any other candidate in any other time. The doctor has bad breath, and he might be a little sloppy with that scalpel, but seriously - have you seen the condition of the patient?

Ted will do everything right, and the patient will die. Trump will be a slight nightmare, we'll lose our hair and puke a lot, but maybe we're at least around to curse the doctor in a couple years. Dead men don't praise.

213 posted on 02/20/2016 12:30:55 AM PST by tinyowl (A equals A)
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To: tinyowl
Seriously, thank you for that explanation of your position.

It's refreshing after all of the poop-slinging over the past few weeks from both sides (including me).

Your explanation helps.

214 posted on 02/20/2016 12:38:41 AM PST by Washi (All lives matter, or none do.)
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To: Washi

LOL You know what, I am not the one who started with the accords stuff...you did. Nor did I post a thread about blowing it if we don’t vote for Cruz.

Maybe this is some sort of tactic that you learned before I got to FR, but you really didn’t address anything I said...just a snarky comment about getting back to you in a couple years if Trump wins...

Want to know a little secret?...Of course you do. I think the first 2 years of a Trump administration are going to be hell (Oh, can I say that? So many words are verbotten. Well I did.) Trump will take incoming like no other (Heard that he already did from Rush). He will take it from the media, from the left, from the right, and from the GOPe—no one wants the status quo to change.

Second, things are such a mess, it is going to be very painful to fix the problems that exist. I am a realist and I don’t think it is going to be “Morning in America Again” in the first 2 years of a Trump administration. It is going to be a roll up your sleeves/all hands on deck and heave ho type of 2 years.

However, I lived through the Reagan years (best years IMHO), and I do believe that we could have Morning in America later in a Trump term or in a second Trump term.

Oh, if you don’t know what Morning in America Means, this will help—this is Reagan:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EU-IBF8nwSY,

Tell ya what, if one of your preferred candidates wins- and I don’t know who all you are considering as conservative—but let’s say you roll with Rush so it is Rubio and Cruz, I hope you get back to me....I have a hunch it will be business as usual :(

Sorry I don’t trust Cruz—he is establishment...

Things are so bad in DC, with the Uniparty, I am willing to take the chance on Trump. I think if Trump accomplishes even half of what he has said he wants to do, I will be happy.


215 posted on 02/20/2016 12:43:49 AM PST by Freedom56v2
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To: exnavy
I will not vote for a progressive, no matter the party. Not Trumbama, Sanders, clinton. The constitution party looks good.

So, of course, you didn't vote for the progressive Mitt Romney in 2012, because he was for gun control and was the original architect of 0bamacare, right?

That didn't work out so well for us non-progressives, did it?

Hey, I have a great idea: how about if we nominate an arch-conservative who might not be a natural born citizen, who isn't even liked by his own Senate colleagues, who trusted the 0bama administration enough to grant him blanket trade promotion authority on the Trans-Pacific Partnership, and who probably can't make significant inroads into the demographic groups which are necessary in order to win the 2016 general election for US President?

Or maybe, alternately, let's nominate someone who isn't a politician at all, who has a record of getting things done in the real world, whose published policy positions are eminently conservative, who has his hand on the pulse of an extremely angry electorate, and who has led the charge on critical issues from the very beginning of his campaign?

Or, as a final alternative, how about if we nominate the candidate who has accumulated the most delegates at the time that the convention comes along, and then support that candidate, even if he happens to not be your first choice, or mine?

Nah. Better to just pontificate sanctimoniously about "progressives", sit on one's hands, don't show up to vote, and be a purist to the point that the rabid progressive Democrat or the cronyist crook Democrat wins instead...

216 posted on 02/20/2016 12:48:59 AM PST by sargon
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To: bushwon
I am for Cruz. Always have been. Never made any statements otherwise.

I will vote for Trump if he is the nominee, but I'm hoping he's not.

A candidate is more than his snapshot positions during the campaign. A candidate is his words and behavior over his lifetime.

Trump may have had an epiphany and become conservative, or may just be bull-crapping his way to the nomination.

If he had a conservative record, I wouldn't have to be suspicious. But he doesn't, so I do.

And yeah, I know what "Morning in America" is. I was in the military during both of Reagan's terms.

Trump is, absolutely, no Reagan.

I don't see the wisdom of "smashing the system" and hoping that something good comes in to fill the vacuum.

217 posted on 02/20/2016 1:19:28 AM PST by Washi (All lives matter, or none do.)
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To: rwoodward
If you idiot conservatives can vote for a Romney or a McCain or a Bush....then Trump should be an easy choice! Trump is a far better candidate than any of those other GOP losers! You should thank your lucky stars that Trump punked Jebbie out of the race! For that alone we owe him one!

A lot of passion on this thread so wasn't going to post, but what you said is a wonderful synopsis. So BTTT.

218 posted on 02/20/2016 2:13:52 AM PST by SandwicheGuy (*The butter acts as a lubricant and speeds up the CPU)
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To: Windflier

Ditto


219 posted on 02/20/2016 2:25:55 AM PST by SandwicheGuy (*The butter acts as a lubricant and speeds up the CPU)
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To: Washi

I’m taking names and if Trump wins the primaries and loses to Sanders, I’m going to say to every one of them, I TOLD YOU SO. YOV’VE TANKED THIS COUNTRY FOR GOOD.


220 posted on 02/20/2016 3:37:32 AM PST by lucky american (Progressives are attacking our rights and y'all will sit there and take it.)
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