Posted on 03/11/2016 2:55:39 AM PST by 2ndDivisionVet
Ted Cruz spent the CNN debate Thursday drawing policy contrasts between himself and Republican frontrunner Donald Trump. On ISIS, trade, and immigration, Cruz said Trump speaks to voters' concerns but doesn't have solutions that address the problems America confronts. The personal attacks and shouting that have characterized the previous Republican debates were gone, replaced with somber candidates trying to hit target audiences with messages that have worked in the past. Trump was the politically incorrect straight-talker who wants America to win again. Cruz was the conservative ideologue ready to take on the bipartisan Washington cartel. Marco Rubio was once again the youthful, eloquent voice of a rising generation of conservatives. And John Kasich is the experienced governor who wants to expand the Republican coalition by reviving the tradition of compassionate conservatism.
If 2016 were like previous elections, Rubio and Kasich would be neck and neck in the delegate count and ready to give Hillary Clinton tough competition in the general election. But 2016 is not like previous elections. It features a black swan in the form of Donald Trump, the celebrity real estate mogul who is taking over the Republican party, and whose rise is evidence of a powerful anti-Washington sentiment among GOP voters. So the race isn't between Rubio and Kasich. It's between Trump and his closest rival, Ted Cruz, who is disliked by his Senate colleagues and alienated most of Washington when he shut down the government in the fall of 2013.
I doubt either Trump or Cruz is likely to win in November. But in recent days I have encountered the opinion, especially among liberals, that there is no difference between the two candidates. And this is a ridiculous idea. Cruz would make a much better president than Trump. It shouldn't be hard to see why.
For one thing, Cruz actually knows what he's talking about. If you listened to Trump during the CNN debate, you heard little in the way of policy detail. His answers begin with a few words describing how angry people are and how China is taking our jobs before ending with a demand that we negotiate better deals. Trump is full of bluster, often funny and impolitic. He's a great communicator because he reaches peoples' deepest emotions. But to call him "articulate" would be an exaggeration, and to call him a "wonk" would be delusional. You might not like Cruz's policies or the manner in which he communicates them, but there's no question he has firm convictions, a grasp of detail, and knows how to make an argument.
Then there is the question of the Constitution. Trump never mentions it. But Cruz worships it. He mentions it often in his speeches, knows its contents, is devoted to the memory of the Founders and wants to protect their legacy. I don't know how a President Trump would respond if one of the other coequal branches of government challenged his authority. Indeed, I am somewhat afraid that Trump would ignore or move against that other branch, whether it's Congress or the Court. But I don't have that worry with Cruz. He may be an ideologue, but he's an ideological constitutionalist. Trump is neither an ideologue nor a constitutionalist. His only principle is winning. And he's not talking about you winning. He's talking about Trump winning. That's all that matters to him.
The president is not only our head of government. He's also the head of state. He represents America. And I truly don't understand how one could think Donald Trump would be a better representative of America than Ted Cruz. Trump is riveting, entertaining, even charismatic. But he curses, he offends, he disturbs, he confronts, he bends and twists and pushes reality until it suits his needs. Having him as president would be like living on a rollercoaster. You wouldn't know whether you are up or down, and you are likely to wake up nauseous.
Cruz is very conservative, a Bible-believing Christian who is fiercely pro-market and hawkish (if not as interventionist as other Republicans). That might upset secular liberals worldwide. But would Cruz be as erratic, would he be as explosive, would he be as unsettling as Trump? I doubt it. The man idolizes Ronald Reagan. Well, we survived, indeed flourished under, one Reagan presidency. Not a bad model for our next president to have.
Who does Trump idolize? Himself. And his neutral and sometimes flattering attitude toward authoritarian governments ought to make you think twice about seeing him in the Oval Office.
The Oval Office seems very far away right now. It's unlikely either Trump or Cruz will be elected president. But nominating Trump would change the Republican Party in a way nominating Cruz would not. Trump overthrows the apple cart. He's already breaking one weak institution--the GOP--and there's no telling what other weak institutions he could break if elected to high office. For reasons of policy, presentation, and character, there is only remaining choice in this GOP primary. It is Ted Cruz.
I know who,eheartedly how Cruz supporters are disappoint that conservatives can vote Trump, we believe our conservative principles have been repeatedly thrown outvote window by our SO CALLED conservative leaders that WE fought hard to put in office!!! WE now believe we will go for someone who is NOT BEHOLDEN to DONORS!!! WE know Trump may not be the most conservative but WE will take SOME of our conservative principles over NONE because of BIG DONORS!!! BORDER is #1 without the border we DO NOT have a nation and WE will NEVER again have a conservative POTUS we are looking at SLOWLY starting to right this ship, the same way the DEMS SLOWLY turned this country to their progressive agenda!!!!
It might not even get to California. If Trump takes all these winner take all states coming up, plus North Carolina, that’s 320 and maybe 20 for Cruz. Trump would be close to 800 and would need just over 400 more delegates. Cruz would need 1200 to catch him.
So, who shall be, the vp?
Poorly reasoned article based more on emotional opinonon then careful thought will are condemened no matter the source. This argument that a source's history some how means it every pronouncement should be met with reverential awe is utterly absurd. It is a silly argument. That it is published in a "respectable" outlet makes it no less silly.
I think Trump spoke about Caterpillar and Daewoo recently. He mentioned a friend who would never have gone for Daewoo if the price difference hadn’t gotten so ridiculous that it would have been a bad business decision to go with Caterpillar.
Caterpillar knows that, too.
The Biblical consequence of child sacrifice was/is invasion and conquest. We have been and are being invaded and the left and middle progressives who believe God is dead will join them in their conquest.
Wealth is a blessing for some, but babies are a blessing for all. If pre-born genocide continues, not even Trump can stop the wrath of God.
Who will be VP?
I think it will be candidate with the greatest strengths and the fewest weaknesses in terms of defeating Clinton, and the best ability to step in as president and to be a legislative asset
There are a lot of things to commend Kasich, but the optics are bad: 2 old white guys.
I would put my money on someone who brings a purple or blue state, has legislative experience, brings an important demographic, and is a known, capable leader.
If I wanted to accomplish all those things and unite the party, I’d pick someone like Condi Rice, political fallout notwithstanding. She’s unassailable.
I doubt even Trump haters here agree with that
Gang of Eight made li’l Marco dead man walking back then
He just didn’t know it yet
Nice shot
For Trump- will most likely be a RINO who can make deals with Pelosi and Reid-And FReepers will be posting what a brilliant choice it is.
What makes you think that Glenn Beck would have any role in a Cruz Administration? I certainly don't believe that he'll have any role. Beck's likely motivation isn't to land a position in the administration but to boost the Blaze and other Beck enterprises. The Donald would appreciate that. Pump up that brand.
I don't know a single Cruz supporter who has changed his opinion about Glenn Beck based on this endorsement. We all know that even a blind pig finds an acorn once in a while. I think that Beck is a loony-tune and I don't listen to him at any time even when he is talking up Cruz. I don't hold the nonsense of Glenn Beck against Cruz any more than I hold the nonsense of Ann Coulter against Donald Trump.
Do you have an actual example of this supposed hypocrisy or is it just a figment of your imagination?
If Cruz can’t beat Trump in most states, how is he supposed to beat Hillary. He has zero chance of taking any blue or purple states and runs primarily on social issues which the Democrats own.
Cruz has already lost
Sad to say but I agree that Cruz is a long shot at this point. Personally, I think that conservatives (and Republicans) will ultimately regret having Donald Trump at the head of the ticket. Hopefully, I will be proven wrong but I still have this very uneasy feeling about Trump.
After winning not more than about 50 delegates Tuesday night, Cruz will need 850 of the 1000 remaining delegates with Trump leading in most of those states. It will be mathematically over.
Trump won’t necessarily get all he needs by the end, but he has an awfully good shot at it, but Cruz definitely does not.
Either of them are a gamble, CC. Ted just took on Neil Bush of all people, Fiorina Bush signed on with him, Bush met with him, he signed TPA and was an original supporter of TPP, he pushed H1B, he voted for Corker Iran, and he said he didn’t know at 43 years old and a super lawyer that he was a Canadian citizen even though he had his Canadian birth certificate in his hands.
He isn’t a sure thing, either.
But that isn’t really the issue with me. I’m just interested here in the math. It would take Moses dividing the Red Sea for Cruz to pull this out at this point.
I agree. We have got to get our financial house in order or the rest of it will fall.
I remember learning natural born like you say in school. As I recall I was taught that in 6-8th grade history(late 50’s).
I agree 100%.
True.
So you are claiming ignorance and denial about the Beck/Cruz alliance? You say you don’t listen to Beck anymore but maybe you should since you support Cruz. Beck spends all three hours of his radio show every day promoting Cruz and smearing Trump in any way shape or form that he can. He is going all out burning bridges for Cruz and Cruz knows he’s doing it. In fact this is how Cruz can come off acting like he’s above all the mean talk but he neglects to say how Beck and his cohorts are doing it for him. Why don’t you listen to Beck’s radio show this week and get back to me on whether it’s a figment of my imagination or whether you are in denial and just don’t want to know.
Excellent example. Higher prices for cars, lower employment and lower output.
We need some more of that, eh?
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