Posted on 08/17/2015 6:32:28 PM PDT by VinL
When the junior senator from Texas announced that he was running for president last March, I used these pages to write that, "Ted Cruz could win in places like Alabama."
That opinion was based upon Cruz's unapologetic advocacy and defense of the conservative principles of limited government, individual liberty, and free markets, and his sincere desire to see those principles form the foundation for a massive shift in American governance.
Five months into his campaign, however, I feel that my earlier statement must be revised: Ted Cruz "will" win in places like Alabama, and perhaps in even less conservative states.
That prediction is based upon his impressive performance in the crowded primary thus far.
First, Cruz raised more hard money in the last reporting cycle than any of his competitors – even more than Jeb Bush who is backed by the establishment's money machine. This is a crucial indicator because, as we have learned, in this age money is indeed speech, and donating to a candidate is essentially "early voting" it is most truthful and practical form.
Moreover, Cruz's cash was raised in small amounts from many individual donors, a clear sign of deep and wide support cross the nation.
Usually, when a candidate claims that they've raised more individual donations and in small amounts, it's meant to highlight their grassroots support and downplay the fact that they're not raising large sums of money. Cruz is turning that typical formula on its head.
He's getting more individual contributions, in smaller amounts, and still raising the most money all at once. That's unheard of.
Second, Cruz is polling remarkably well in a crowded field of several All-Star candidates who, in normal cycles, would be leading contenders for the nomination. It's not like Cruz is the only conservative in the race; it's just that he may be the most courageous and trustworthy.
That's making a difference.
After the first debate, Cruz rocketed to second place in an early survey of support, behind Donald Trump and ahead of Ben Carson. Notice anything similar about those three? They're all outsiders, either removed from the party's establishment by their careers (Trump and Carson) or by their actions (Cruz). When those other two leave for whatever reason (Trump isn't a consistent and trustworthy conservative, and Carson isn't ready to battle the Democrats or the bureaucracy), the natural recipient of their fed-up-with-the-establishment supporters is Cruz. When the field shrinks in the coming months, expect Cruz's numbers to steadily increase.
Third, Cruz's anti-establishment message is resonating with voters, and it's something that movement conservatives have been waiting to hear since 1988. His attack on the "Washington Cartel," as he calls it, takes on both parties. Last month he took to the Senate floor and, in an unprecedented act of political courage, called the party's lackluster and backroom-dealing majority leader, Mitch McConnell, a "liar" for secretly negotiating with Democrats to pass President Barrack Obama's trade deal and rescue a crony capitalist bank from disestablishment. I've rarely seen a sitting politician take-on his leadership like that, and it was refreshing and inspiring.
So when Cruz came to Huntsville last Sunday evening to speak with supporters, I took my two oldest children in hopes that they'd see the man who might end up rescuing their generation from inheriting a weakened, and less free, America. I've been to a number of these early primary events, and I only expected 200-300 attendees at most. But organizers said they received more than 1,400 RSVPs, and by my count there were easily 2,000 people standing in the main hall and foyer of the Jackson Center conference facility.
Cruz's speech was wonderful, and it reminded me of what Rush Limbaugh said when he announced last spring.
"We finally now have, on display, someone who can cheerfully, confidently, happily articulate conservatism in a charismatic, positive way," Limbaugh said on his radio program last March.
"Somebody who's not afraid of it. Somebody who's not ashamed of it.
Somebody who doesn't see any need to qualify it or to make excuses for it."
Does that remind you of any other candidate in recent decades ... who was also hated by the establishment?
Let's hope Cruz – and America – enjoys similar results.
“I think this is one of those times where the real choice is 60% of something (Trump) or 100% of nothing (Cruz).”
Gee, when have we read or heard that crap before...? , ...basically every election since ‘88.
How’s that workin’ for us?
Yeah, well my friend, if that’s your issue- you won’t vote for Cruz.
My opinion is that there is only one issue— who will dismantle the Washington GOP and turned the party back into a limited government party.
Absent that, this socialist country becomes irretrievably socialist; and your issue will become meaningless.
Yeah, I stepped away and see I’ve been infested by the usual trolls. I ignore the low IQ’s, they have no reason- no sense in attempting any meaningful dialogue. Some are well- intentioned- just misguided.
I think they sense that if their man wants the nomination, he has to get by Ted Cruz-— and they know their 3rd grade talker doesn’t have the requisite intellect.
“Gee, when have we read or heard that crap before...? , ...basically every election since ‘88.
How’s that workin’ for us?”
Depends on what your benchmark is I guess.
From 2000-2008 it got lower taxes and a boost in military spending.
That’s not a lot but it’s better than nothing.
I was one Trumps earliest supporters and I said then that he’s speaking to 3 issues that are a priority for me in 2016.
Immigration and closing the border, better trade deals, more opportunities for the middle class.
If Trump focuses on those 3 issues I’m not going to worry about the rest right now.
I don’t expect Trump so be a conservative social warrior so I won’t be very disappointed when he doesn’t act like one.
Doubt Cruz can win Alabama with Jeff Sessions R advising Trump on his immigration plan, which is much different than Cruz support for 500% increase in work visas for foreign workers.
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More at Conservative Review: https://www.conservativereview.com/2016-presidential-candidates
I disagree with your point. If the illegal immigration problem isn’t solved, we WILL become a socialistic country. Most of our ills stem from this one issue. Not all, but most. I like Cruz and he is in my top 2- I just disagree with him on this. I also disagree with Trump on some things, but I think he has the brass we need to take the bull by the horns and turn this country in the right direction. I’d like to see Ted as VP for 4 years and then run for the presidency again for an 8 year term. That vote for TPA was no small issue either.
Ted Cruz has spent a lifetime fighting to defend the Constitution — our nation’s founding document and the supreme law of the land — which was crafted by our founding fathers to act as chains to bind the mischief of government and to protect the liberties endowed to us by our Creator.
Religious Liberty
Second Amendment
U.S. Sovereignty
Government Overreach
Buddy, you know what you do, write the author of the article. J. Pepper Bryars has spent a lifetime in Alabama politics- he’s written books, he was a staffer for an Alabama Congressman and a President.
Write him. Introduce yourself. Tell him, “I Am “AMIHOW”— and explain how you’re right, and he’s wrong. I’m sure he’ll give someone with your credentials and expert knowledge of Alabama politics an immediate reply.
If there were no Trump in the race, that might be the case. I was listening to some educators today bemoaning the number of non-English speaking students in their school. One of them said, “Donald Trump is sounding better and better.”
.
Jeff Sessions is not advising Trump on anything.
He just commented on Trump’s paper.
Watch the video. Ted Cruz talked about his father coming here with a student visa. After graduating, he started up a company and created jobs in this country.
Do you want a tide that will lift all the boats in an economic boom, including your job? Or, do you want to protect your job and have the whole country go down the tube?
May 14, 2013
WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Senator Ted Cruz (R-TX) today presented an amendment to the Gang of Eight immigration bill that would improve our nation’s legal immigration system by increasing high-skilled temporary worker visas, called H-1B visas, by 500 percent. The measure would effectively address the needs of our nation’s high-skilled workforce by helping meet the growing demand for workers in the science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) fields. It will also make block grants available to states to promote STEM education efforts and increase domestic STEM professionals. The committee voted against the amendment 4 to 14 with every Democrat voting against it on a party-line vote.
“I strongly support legal immigration. Legal immigration is a fundamental pillar of our nation's heritage, and I was pleased today to offer legislation that would have improved and expanded legal immigration by dramatically increasing the cap for high-tech temporary worker visas. This amendment would not only improve the current system, but would also encourage economic growth and create new jobs in America. There is currently a serious shortage of workers in the fields of science, technology, engineering, and math, yet every year we send thousands of high-tech graduate students back to their home countries to start businesses and create jobs. This makes no sense. I’m disappointed in the committee’s vote to reject expanding high-tech immigration. Although the Gang of Eight's bill makes a modest step towards improving high-tech immigration, it does not go nearly far enough. There is no reason to arbitrarily cap high-tech visas at 110,000 when these jobs are going unfilled. We need economic growth here and now.”
Sen. Cruz’s amendment would:
Immediately increase the H-1B cap by 500 percent from 65,000 to 325,000.
Help retain the high-skilled workers that are trained in the U.S. by allowing “dual intent.”
Create block grants for states to promote STEM education in their public schools by raising H-1B fees.
Trump’s in-party negatives have been floating around 60% for a while now.
He won’t go anywhere after the field is down to Cruz and Bush.
Cruz has no measurable negatives.
Everyone seems to have a different definition of what a conservative is.
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Ain’t that the truth!
If I defined a conservative as someone who is exactly like me on every issue, large and small, I’d have no one to vote for unless I ran myself.
I’m just pleased as punch that I have at least 4 candidates running in the republican primaries that I’d be happy to vote for.
Trump, Walker, Cruz and Carson, not necessarily in that order.
Last I heard, those had reversed more than 2 weeks ago.
This thread is almost as much fun as the one the other day from DU about how The Bern was going to Obamanize Hillary just like in 2008. DUmmies were threatening bodily harm against one another on that one.
Of course you have every right to your opinion, and in the months to come we will see if it was the correct one. Until then, the Clint Eastwood theory of opinions holds true, for each of us.
I have read that Trump met with Sessions last week and Sessions commented approvingly about the plan. If you find out differently, please let me know.
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