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Posted on 08/21/2013 9:09:21 AM PDT by SoConPubbie
He may be a right-wing nut, but the Texas senator can beat a Democrat in a general election. Here's why
There’s been some more buzz this week about Ted Cruz’s presidential prospects. The demagoguing senator took his first trip to Iowa just six months after being sworn in to office, and he’s pretty clearly reaching for the White House. Early reports are that it’s going well. And Rich Yeselson wrote a high-profile (and fascinating) essay arguing that, basically, Cruz is perfectly positioned for reaching the top of the Republican ticket.
The focus of this piece is on Cruz’s general election viability. When it comes to the primary, I’m not going to start handicapping the viable candidates seeking the Republican nomination yet; I’ll only say that I don’t see any reason not to include Cruz in that group, as of now. Viable candidates have conventional credentials and are in the mainstream of their party on questions of public policy. Cruz, from what we know now, qualifies. With four years in elected office by January 2017, he’ll be in a similar boat with Barack Obama (who, granted, had held lower office as well) and Mitt Romney (who at least had four full years before his campaign began). And while Cruz surely is planted at an edge of the Republican mainstream, I don’t see any reason, so far, to believe he’s close to falling off that edge. Whether or not Yeselson is correct that Cruz is a particularly strong candidate, it’s certainly very possible to see him nominated.
But what about the general election? Could he actually win?
What I hear from many liberals about Cruz’s chances are two things. One is just disbelief: Republicans wouldn’t really do something like nominate Cruz, would they? The key is that Ted Cruz isn’t Herman Cain or even Michele Bachmann; he’s a United States senator, and that counts for something (that is, conventional credentials count for something) in presidential elections. So, yes, they really could do something like that.
The other thing I hear, however, is perhaps even more wrong. Some liberals react by actively rooting for Cruz. The theory? The nuttier the nominee, the worse the chances of Republicans retaking the White House. Indeed, in conversation I’ve heard all sorts of justifications: Cruz couldn’t possibly win Florida! Therefore, he couldn’t win the White House!
Don’t listen to it.
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Senator Ted Cruz for President Ping!
like a rented mule.
Let’s start calling Hillary a left-wing nut!
Cruz at this time, is by far my first choice. All we need to do is kidnap Karl Rove, and send him to a gulag under armed guard .
Ted Cruz currently has Canadian citizenship and I won’t be voting for him. Period.
With respect to your thread just down below, this is why the Cruz birthers are now starting to ooze out of the woodwork.
So vote for Hillary then.
“If we must have an enemy at the head of Government, let it be one whom we can oppose, and for whom we are not responsible, who will not involve our party in the disgrace of his foolish and bad measures.” - Alexander Hamilton
Obvious idiot. This guy doesn’t realize that only moderates can win. Besides, plenty of Freepers know better than this no name wannabee.
TOO SOON. HE IS A FRESHMAN AND WE NEED TO SEE HOW HE BEHAVES IND VOTES IN CRISIS. HE NEEDS TO HAVE A RECORD, AND SOME EXPERIENCE. LET US NOT WASTE HIS POTENTIAL. MO!
I LIVE IN TEXAS. HE IS A COMER.
WE NEED HIIM IN THE SENATE NOW! BEST NOT TO RUSH HIM.
I AGREE HE CAN BE PRESIDENT. HILLARY WILL NOT PLAY FAIR, IF NECESSARY SHE WILL MAKE UP LIES, THE PRESS WILL CARRY AND PUSH THE LIES. ETC.
Beautiful!
Ted Cruz currently has Canadian citizenship and I won’t be voting for him. Period.Senator Cruz has already stated that if necessary, since he was not aware of his Canadian citizenship, he will renounce his Canadian citizenship.
Ted Cruz is the best debater in the country.
Hillary would get clobbered in any debate and Cruz would destroy any moderator who attempts to help Hillary.
Cruz would not play Mr. Nice Guy.
He’d obviously get the enthusiastic support of evangelical Christians, social conservatives, fiscal conservatives, and Tea Party members. And, of course, Sarah Palin would endorse and campaign for him.
Every time that quote is posted, like clockwork, some sycophant comes out to explain why it’s not relevant anymore.
Mark my words. It will happen. And they do not even realize how stupid they look.
What’s your rationale there?
He’s going to renounce the Canadian citizenship, but I wouldn’t care if he didn’t.
What are you afraid he’ll do—give Detroit to the Parti Quebecois?
Obama was the first “black” president
Rafael Edward Cruz would be first Hispanic President
Obama was a Senator for less than 2 years.
Cruz will have been a senator for 4 years.
Obama held office in the Illinois legislature.
Cruz was the solicitor general of Texas.
Cruz was an honors graduate of Princeton University.
Obama has never released a transcript.
Cruz was a law clerk for chief justice William Rehnquist.
Obama never put his law degree to work.
Obama was the editor of the Harvard Law Review and never penned an article.
Cruz attended Harvard Law School, graduating magna cum laude in 1995.[27][1] While at Harvard Law, Cruz was a primary editor of the Harvard Law Review, and executive editor of the Harvard Journal of Law and Public Policy, and a founding editor of the Harvard Latino Law Review.[4] Referring to Cruz’s time as a student at Harvard Law, Professor Alan Dershowitz said, “Cruz was off-the-charts brilliant.”[19][28][29][30][31][32] At Harvard Law, Cruz was a John M. Olin Fellow in Law and Economics.[33]
The Republicans can continually go after Hillary for all of her misdeeds - if they have the nads to do so.
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