Posted on 11/30/2012 6:40:52 AM PST by LoneStarGI
Texas Sen.-elect Ted Cruz advised the Republican Party to rebrand itself under a banner of Opportunity Conservatism during a sweeping speech Thursday night that will only stoke speculation about a 2016 presidential run.
Speaking before the conservative American Principles Project dinner at a downtown Washington hotel, Cruz said the GOPs thumping in the 2012 elections was more the result of poor messaging and communication than the wrong ideology.
Why did we lose? It wasnt as the media would tell you: because the American people embraced big government, Barack Obamas spending and debt and taxes.
That wasnt what happened. Im going to suggest to you a very simple reason why we lost the election: We didnt win the argument, Cruz said before pointedly lowering his voice. We didnt even make the argument.
(Excerpt) Read more at politico.com ...
This is a great start, I don’t know who this guy is but he’s singing my song.
” We didnt even make the argument.
Correct.
But he'll have to prove it - having a hispanic surname isn't enough.
And I completely reject the charge the GOP takes a 'harsh tone' on immigration. That assertion is ridiculous.
Absolutely correct. And it's mostly because Romney and the leadership that pushed him really didn't believe those principles themselves, so therefore they could hardly be expected to argue them.
I hope people like Cruz can just shove the old guard aside and get out there with the message.
Paging Sarah Palin.
(there is an opportunity, but it is right now)
IBTB - Ted Cruz is the son of US Citizens, he is nbC.
He’s got my attention. I’m listening.
Cruz is absolutely the real deal.
Now...that said....he was born in Canada to US citizens, but his father was a Cuban refugee who was naturalized.
So wouldn’t many here say he is not eligible for POTUS?
Should GOP ever get Senate majority, Cruz should be a longterm Senate Majority Leader. He could arguably do more for the country if he held onto that gavel for say 24 years, then a mere 8 as POTUS.
I am with you. Cruz, arrives in the Senate as one of the most capable people in an elected position. Even though he is new to that group, he is highly seasoned in DC and politics. Cruz, DeMint, Lee, Rubio, Toomey, and governors like Kasich, Walker, Perry need to work together to meet with potential candidates for 2016 and back them in a uniformed manner heading into the primaries. We need these people with core conservative beliefs to represent the base and screen our options, promote the candidate early, and help bankroll them against the ‘chosen’ RNC candidate (most likely Jeb or Christie).
We can’t do what happened the last cycle and let a bunch of random conservative minds take each other down. I am all for an open process..as opposed to using king makers, but we need some organization from our top leaders to prepare to get a real conservative as the nominee.
I voted for him for Senate but as of yet, he’s held no office. We don’t know much about him. He has no experience or history. As of now, I’d vote NO for any presidental talk.
Boy, I like what he’s saying, but the lesson of history is that pols who’ve never even won statewide election don’t get elected President - or even into the finals (ref. Michele B.)
But he’s right on the money with this message and if he can be one of the voices who brings the message of conservatism to masses of people who won’t get it via their news source (i.e. MSM), aren’t going to listen to Rush for 3 hrs/day, etc - more power to him.
Unless a candidate embraces the confession of faith that includes soft immigration language and policy, he or she will never be supported.
BUT if a conservative third party movement develops in this cycle there are a number of possibilities...
And regular conservatism doesn’t provide opportunity?
Another attempt to create distance from the brand, while tarnishing it through the effort.
Exactly. My new senator doesn’t have a chance. The RNC RINO factory probably has everything lined up till 2032.
Maybe — but another way of putting it is:
“Unless we have articulate messengers who are able to present Conservatism and liberty as the way to truly improve lives and create wealth and opportunity for all, then we’ll be sitting here 3 1/2 years from now bitching about Republican nominee Jeb Bush”.
Screw talk of who’s going to run in 2016! Let’s talk about who, when, and how “we” are going to change the narrative and STOP relying on the RNC to tell us who our candidate is going to be!
..I understand what you are saying, but I tend believe that the evidence shows that welfare and race lost this election--they just wanted the stuff...
“Opportuniy Conservatism”, sounds too much like “Compassionate Conservatism.” Besides, didn’t Newton Gingrich and others years ago form the “Conservative Opportunity Society”? Both ideas, opportunity and conservatism, just died “on the vine,” as Newt was misquoted as having said about Medicare.
The argument hasn’t been made since 1988...
“Now...that said....he was born in Canada to US citizens, but his father was a Cuban refugee who was naturalized.”
Uh oh. Problems here.
Even if his parents were natural born citizens (without the “naturalized Cuban refugee” aspect to contend with), they would have had to take certain steps after the birth (paperwork, etc.), to ensure that the birth would be considered “natural born”.
The fact that completely natural-born parents (for example, John McCain’s parents) have a baby OUTSIDE of the USA, in itself, does not make the child natural-born.
Again, this is a “danger, Will Robinson!” situation that will come back at him later on, unless he proves conclusively that the p’s and q’s were taken to qualify his birth as “natural-born”.
Why can’t we find a candidate who’s parents were born _here_, and who was born _here_ as well?
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