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I’ve run for office before and as a Constitutionalist, I was often confused as a Paulite.

I had this guy heckle me (live and in social media) for weeks that not supporting legalized marijuana made me a bad conservative. “No,” I repeatedly pointed out, “That made me a bad libertarian.”

I agree that if you can get that element of the tea party on your side, they can be fiercely loyal. They can have a place in a coalition of support. It’s a fine line to walk. You absolutely cannot hedge about where you disagree because not being clear about your differences is tantamount to supporting their viewpoint in their book.

It’s a neat trick for a politician to get you to say yes to them while you’re saying no to them.

Often times, both libertarians and even FReepers are accused of being purists. I disagree. The issue isn’t whether we agree on everything. The issue most of us have with politicians is that they SAY they believe what we do to get elected, but really don’t. Every Republican is a severe conservative come Primary Day.

If Cruz can address their concerns where they agree while not caving on the differences, engaging the Liberty Caucus is smart politics.

If a conservative (Cruz) is going to stand a chance in 2016 he needs to spearhead a second party an opposition party,(not the Libertarian Party) we can no longer defeat the Dino Rino Party from within, we must come out from among the beast, the time I think is right now. Americans are looking for direction and leadership the Democrat, Republican, Libertarian and Independent voters have been meandering around lost in the wilderness for far too long; the Dino's and Rino's have been running us in circles, it is most obvious now and we are ready to sail and restore our Free Republic; but someone like Cruz needs to take the helm, separate and come out from among the Dino Rino beast.

"Conservatarian" - I like that.

Cruz, whose Senate candidacy was endorsed by Ron Paul, has been working to make inroads with the largely-overlooked Liberty constituency in Iowa.

Last August, Cruz sat down with a handful of influential conservatarian activists in Ames to test the presidential waters. He fielded a wide variety of policy and strategy questions, but broke stride during a response on government spending to praise Paul and his followers, while taking a swipe at the suppression of Ron Paul delegates at the Republican National Convention in 2012. “Ron Paul is someone I admire and respect, I think he was a powerful voice for liberty – still is. And I think he energized an army of activists across this country,” said Cruz. “One of the stupidest things Republicans did in 2012, was try to kick the Ron Paul people in the teeth. It doesn’t make any sense if you want people to be energized and engaged, to go after them and treat them as the enemy.”

Cruz has also taken the time to campaign with liberty candidates in Iowa, and his Jobs, Growth, and Freedom Fund recently made a major contribution to conservatarian state PAC Liberty Iowa – tied, in fact, for the Fund’s largest contribution to any person or group nationwide. Cruz has also reached out to liberty leaders in the state to set up meetings later this month when he travels to Des Moines for the Iowa Freedom Summit.