Ted Cruz: Future of conservatism is populist and libertarian

Washington Examiner ^ | July 14 | by Anthony Leonardi,

[RandFan]

Sen. Ted Cruz said the future of conservatism after President Trump leaves office can be both populist and libertarian.

The Texas Republican weighed on ideological debates among conservatives, saying the future of conservative politics can be a combination of libertarian beliefs and populism during a Tuesday interview with the Washington Examiner about his podcast, The Verdict, co-hosted by conservative commentator Michael Knowles.

"I think properly understood, those concepts are complementary, and they're not antagonistic. So I am a conservative, an unabashed conservative. I'm also a populist. I am deeply a populist," Cruz began. "And I also have deep libertarian principles. Look, if you're protecting liberty, that is the foundation of our country. That is the foundation of our Constitution and Bill of Rights. When it comes to populism, I think the most fundamental and important shifts in the last decade in politics is that Republicans have become the party of the working class."

The idea of conservatism "conserving" libertarian beliefs, or classical liberalism, has recently been challenged by some writers. Sohrab Ahmari, a conservative opinion editor for the New York Post, advocated for a "common good" conservatism in May 2019. In an opinion piece for religious publication First Things, he wrote, "Here is the problem: The movement we are up against prizes autonomy above all, too; indeed, its ultimate aim is to secure for the individual will the widest possible berth to define what is true and good and beautiful, against the authority of tradition."

"There's some people who want to use the word populism to say, 'Well, we should just have socialism.' No, socialism is not populism. That's not good for the workers. Socialism is tyranny of government. Every socialist government across the globe has produced poverty and misery and suffering and death," Cruz said.

[RandFan]

GOP Platform has the answers .... but I’m afraid those in Congress has no desire to uphold it ... the few that do are no where near leadership positions.

[mlo]

"Why do you want people with divided loyalties/multiple citizenship in the White House?"

I didn't say anything about what I want. And if you think what the Constitution says depends on how much you want a certain thing, well there's part of your problem.

"That’s precisely what the founders were excluding with the natural born citizen clause."

No. Precisely what they were excluding is what they wrote in the text. Only natural born citizens qualify. They were excluding immigrants from the Presidency, because the alternative to getting your citizenship by birth is to get it by naturalization. There is no other way.

[attiladhun2]

Populist yes. Libertarian no. I’ve never met a libertarian who was not more “lib” than libertarian.

[adorno]

Well, screw you says this Michigander.

You might be a good American, but liberal Michiganders, screwed up that state. The republican minority in Michigan can always move to the better parts of the USA.

[adorno]

If there were a separation, they would simply infiltrate and take over the institutions in the new country.

Like I said in a prior post, the conservative new country would ban socialism/communism, and infiltration cannot change the country if their ideology and politics were banned. The infiltrators would be neutralized and they'd likely be happier where the government has total control of their lives and the government gives them everything for free. China and Russia would have to pay for all the freebies, since the people in the new liberal countries would not be working.

[central_va]

Libertarians are for the most part anti nationalists ( ok, they are globalists ). I do NOT like that...

[central_va]

Be careful because it seems to me on Free Republic the only thing worse than a liberal Democrat leftist is a secessionist.

[central_va]

Or could some states secede from the Union entirely, and become independent countries?

Duh.

[Responsibility2nd]

Sen. Ted Cruz said the future of conservatism after President Trump leaves office can be both populist and libertarian.

________________________________________

How depressing. I’d rather have RINO’s than libertarians. And Populism is never effective for very long.

Here’s an idea. Try it. it Works:

CONSERVATISM.

[Responsibility2nd]

Populist and libertarian with conservatism works for me.

___________________________________________

Yeah. And being a hard core alcoholic, in AA, and only drinking on the weekends works for me.

(figuratively)

[Georgia Girl 2]

😄

[Georgia Girl 2]

Sorry Teddy after your disgraceful behavior in 2016 you can forget the presidency.

[be-baw]

Hell no, I’m not gonna let a bunch of rat bastards run me out of town. I like it here.

[adorno]

Hell no, I’m not gonna let a bunch of rat bastards run me out of town. I like it here.

Some people don't mind living with rats, apparently. I left the rat-hole of NYC over 30 years ago, and every time I go back to visit family, I know I did the right thing. Would never go back to that hellhole.

[be-baw]

Apples and oranges. Lansing ain’t nuthin like NYC. You wanna turn tail and run, go for it. Me, I ain’t goin anywhere.

[adorno]

Apples and oranges. Lansing ain’t nuthin like NYC. You wanna turn tail and run, go for it. Me, I ain’t goin anywhere.

One good apple doesn't mean that the rest of the tree is not rotten. You live under the general infestation that liberals have created.

But, like I said, some people don't mind living among rats.

[be-baw]

I don’t. Aren’t you all high and mighty and presumptuous.

[adorno]

I don’t. Aren’t you all high and mighty and presumptuous.

How so?

I'm just suggesting that some people don't mind living with rats, and the squalor and nastiness that they bring.

There is nothing 'high-and-mighty or presumptuous about what I'm saying. To each his own.

[Pelham]

Russell Kirk's great polemic against libertarians:

Libertarians: Chirping Sectaries

[Pelham]

David Boaz is another example.