Posted on 03/16/2016 5:10:46 PM PDT by 2ndDivisionVet
Ever since they became the two leading candidates for the Republican presidential nomination last fall, there was speculation that perhaps U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) and businessman Donald Trump could form an anti-establishment "dream team" for the November general election.
Just hours before the first returns came in, proving that polls were right the GOP front-runner would have another big night, the Texas senator put any talk of a Trump-Cruz ticket to bed. Appearing on the nationally syndicated "Hugh Hewitt Show," Cruz said he had "zero interest" in being Trump's running mate.
"Donald Trump loses to Hillary, and the answer, as you know, Hugh, a lot of folks in the Washington establishment, they're having fevered dreams right now of wanting a brokered convention," he said. "We're going to beat Donald Trump. We're going to beat him for 1,237 delegates. If you want to beat him, you've got to beat him at the ballot box. And the only candidate that can do so is us."
On the off chance that Cruz doesn't get to 1,237 delegates before the national convention, Hewitt then asked if it would be appropriate for him to take the nomination if Trump had more delegates, but fewer than the majority needed to win. The senator then explained the difference between a brokered convention and a contested convention.
"A brokered convention is the convention is deadlocked, and the Washington dealmakers parachute in their white horse salvation who wasn't on the ballot, who the people never selected, and yeah, we get the establishment choice," he said. "I think if they tried that, it would be an absolute catastrophe. The people would revolt, and quite rightly.
"That's very different from a contested convention. As you know, we had one in '76 between Reagan and Ford. Look, I believe we're going to beat Donald Trump, and I'm going to get 1,237 delegates. But the other option is that we go into the convention, and I don't have 1,237 delegates, and Donald doesn't have 1,237 delegates, in which case I think he and I will both have a ton of delegates, and we'll be neck and neck.
"I don't know who will be on top. But if we don't get to 1,237, we could easily be on top, or we'll be neck and neck. And then, you actually have the convention, the delegates decide between the candidates that have gotten a whole bunch of delegates. That's actually the democratic process working the way it's supposed to. And I think there, then it becomes a decision for the delegates."
He has said he’s not interested.
He’d be like Agnew, or like Palin would have been for McCain — the red meat person, making speeches and keeping the conservatives on board.
Cruz has won 9 states. He can be nominated.
That would be the most straightforward way to defeat the GOPe in the event that neither Trump nor Cruz has the majority of delegates needed to secure the nomination outright.
The bottom line is, if nobody gets to 1237, there's absolutely no practical way for the GOPe to keep the candidate with the most delegates off of the top of the ticket.
Why? Because if Donald Trump is the leader in delegates, but doesn't have a majority, and then gets screwed by the GOPe at the convention, he will simply go 3rd independent, at which point the "alternate" GOP nominee will be guaranteed not to win the general election.
The GOPe is going to have to deal with Donald Trump, because Trump has the ability to go rogue and fund an independent run after the GOP pulls their shenanigans.
If Donald Trump leads in delegates going in to the convention, even without a full majority, he'll be the nominee, because the GOP would be committing electoral suicide if they forced Trump to go independent.
Q: Why do you think the GOPe is squealing so loudly?
A: Because they're screwed 9 ways to China. Their choices are:
No, No, and Hell No
If you have paid attention, Trump and Cruz started out this campaign with mutual respect...The Cruz saw his numbers weren’t growing as well as Trump’s so he started getting frisky...
You don’t do that with someone who is NOT a politician...Trump wouldn’t just take it a smile...he kicked back... and HARD...
Cruz blew his chances then and there...
How do you call someone the biggest liar you’ve ever met and then say that out of everyone in America, he would make the best vice-president?
Yes ted cruz record on guns is excellent so he would make a great defender of the 2 amendment on the supreme court, plus hes young and could serve for a long time
It’s all a reality show, I guess.
“However, the conservative radio show host made it clear that Cruz does not share those same supposed aspirations. While Beck has not discussed with Cruz the possibility of a Trump-Cruz alliance, he says the Texas senator’s wife, Heidi, insists that there is “not a chance.”
“Believe me, I know Ted,” Beck said. “I have not asked this of Ted, I have asked this of Heidi, ‘Would Ted Cruz run as the running mate?’ Because that’s what everybody says, ‘You should be a running mate.’”
Though he didn’t offer many details, according to Beck, Cruz’s wife quickly shot down the suggestion.
“Not a chance,” Beck said. “Some day when I write a book, I’ll tell you what Heidi said. … There’s a book conversation that we will have many years down the road. After the second term of the Cruz administration, I will tell you what Heidi said. But not a chance that happens.”
I don’t know is she said ‘bless your heart’ or not. You can read the rest of it at the link and find out.
I’m in agreement with you that Trump should not choose Cruz, though I disagree with Kasich and Christie. Kasich loathes Trump and is unapologetically Leftist on many issues, and Christie is both a hot-head and a “moderate”.
I’ve seen Jeff Sessions from Alabama suggested a lot on this board, but I would think a non-politician would be a better choice. If Trump chooses a politician as his VP, he has to deal with assassination threats from the GOP-e. I think he should choose someone with a more intellectual and calm demeanor who still despises the Left and the GOP-e. Doesn’t have to be perfectly conservative on every issue, but needs to shift the Overton Window away from the Left both as VP and as a possible President. A pro-Trump Whitman wouldn’t be a bad choice, really.
That’s not to say Trump should disown somewhat trustworthy politicians entirely and say they shouldn’t be advisors or cabinet members, but if the GOP-e likes someone they shouldn’t be VP.
In the end Bush Sr. didn’t help at all. Basically undid what RR accomplished. A bad choice. RR should have listened to his wife.
Cheney was a very trusted advisor to Jr.
Trump should pick a minority female running mate IMO.
Your right, but Condi probably won’t do it. I like her. But I don’t see her doing it.
...and Supreme Court Nominee?
A dream ticket, for me. I hope they can work it out.
Wait. After saying Cruz is the nastiest person on the planet and that Cruz cannot “get along” with anybody, and that nobody likes Cruz, and that Cruz is not eligible to even run for President, how in Hades could Trump pick Cruz for VP? He would have to retract all of that and how many times have you seen Trump retract anything at all?
Oh, oh, pick me! The military-industrial complex! /alexjones
Just had the misfortune of catching Lyin' Ted being interviewed by Miss Megyn. He was in rare form, spewing anti-Trump venom at a rapid rate.
He may have already burned the bridge behind him.
My take on why Donald Trump should choose Ted Cruz or someone like Ted Cruz as his Vice Presidential nominee. This theory is contingent if the following premises are true:
1. Trump is nominated and is elected President and Cruz is selected VP
2. Trump must maintain a high general popularity during his term in office or be impeached.
3. The alphabet Media hates Trump.
4. Both the House of Representatives and the Senate hate Trump.
5. Democrats want to destroy the GOPe. (this is a given).
6. The media and Congress will try to subvert Trump’s success.
7. Our foreign enemies are afraid of Trump.
8. Our domestic enemies are afraid of Trump.
9. Our Status as a sovereign nation is under assault.
10. Our military is weak.
11. Fascism and Communism are different sides of the same coin, and the USA is facing a new world feudal order of Oligarchs of which, we the people, are designated serfs.
Rational:
Populist Presidents must maintain popular support, and are less likely to betray their constituencies.
The GOPe and Democrats will impeach an unpopular Trump regardless of the merits. IOW, if he doesn’t do something impeachable they will invent something, especially if Trump’s popularity drops low enough to justify investigations. Therefore the House will find a way to impeach Trump and the Senate will certainly convict.
The GOPe wants to teach their base a lesson, especially the Tea Party.
Both the Democrats and members of the Senate hate Cruz even more than Trump.
Cruz can provide valuable legal guidance to Trump.
Cruz would become unimpeachable if he were to assume office. Much like Obama was.
Cruz can articulate the details of policy which Trump seeming can’t
Cruz would become President of the Senate
It would give cover to Trump on his so-called anti-Hispanics immigration stance.
And Cruz has some very similar conservative beliefs as Donald Trump.
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