Hi 2DV,
Interesting article. I always appreciate the articles that you find and post. I have two observations about TC.
First, he is the consummate chess player that is moves ahead of the field. His self-analysis gives him “arrogance” (in a good way) that he is correct. He sees the entire battlefield long before others sit down to the table.
Second, I’m reminded of one of my most hated classes in College; Philosophy. Now years later, I recognize the importance of being required to take it. Like Cruz, there is not a path or life decision made by me that does not involve weighing what is at my core. Cruz is an original. He is intelligent, savvy, educated, personable, and forward thinking. Despite the quick judgments about him he is truly a bridge builder with those that do not have selfish motives. You will never (rarely?) hear of him making ad hominem attacks or calling names. He is always focused on the issues. Senators like McCain and McConnell call him out because they can’t defend their positions. They refuse to engage with Cruz in substance - they know they are not playing the same level.
TC is a self examined man. He is comfortable in his own skin. And, he wants every American to be comfortable in theirs. Reagan was like that. There is no disrespect of others. There is a sense of inclusion, not exclusion. He raises the self esteem of all that come into contact with him. He operates from a belief of abundance, not scarcity.
Enough for now. Again, thank you for your incredible “finds” that you unearth. Be safe my friend.
Gwjack
Ted Cruz developed confidence in his beliefs over a long time and by careful deliberation in large part due to his father, Rafael Cruz, as mentor who instructed Ted throughout his upbringing on the two paths that mankind follows. Ted heard his father often describe in gruesome detail the violence, horror and conformity of tyranny from personal experience starkly contrasted with the miraculous salvation of liberty granted by a truly unique and relatively new political system that recognizes rights given to all of us by God Almighty. Ted grew up hearing truth from both sides of the argument.
Compare that to the one-sided influences and upbringing of Barack Obama, growing up in a broken home without a father, who was indoctrinated from an early age by mentors convinced of the benefits of communism. Obama grew up learning predominantly one side of the story convinced of the evils of western civilization and the failings of the USA in particular.
Ignorance of facts from both sides of an argument leads to arrogance. That is what separates Obama's arrogance from the confidence of Ted Cruz.