Why? We already have Cruz. If conservatives will actually support a conservative, we'll win.
I heave heard this meme in every election cycle since RR's last 1984-88. Someone like Ted Cruz is not electable in the general election. We are being setup by the lefties once again into committing Hari Kari by being talked into nominating a guy like Cruz. We are a right of center country not a right of right country. Our own echo chamber here does no bely the fact that Hillary Clinton would wipe the floor with Cruz, a 1996 style azz whooping. We can call our fellow countrymen idiots and dolts but they vote. Presidential politics is a beauty contest and Trump right now is Miss America, he has a populist appeal, real crossover potential and would do and say what needed to be done to destroy HRC and generate a 40 state blowout. I personally like Cruz's politics but being a pragmatist I'd elect Trump all day over HRC and I suspect about 53% of my fellow Americans would also. This election about winning not ideological purity. Been there done that and wound up with Obama.
When the heck did we nominate a guy like Cruz? Are you aware that Cruz does better against Hillary than Trump in some polls?
Pragmatism: a philosophical tradition that began in the United States around 1870. Pragmatism rejects the idea that the function of thought is to describe, represent, or mirror reality. Instead, pragmatists consider thought an instrument or tool for prediction, problem solving and action. Pragmatists contend that most philosophical topics—such as the nature of knowledge, language, concepts, meaning, belief, and science—are all best viewed in terms of their practical uses and successes.
Pragmatism is not a virtue, it’s a philosophical fallacy leading to dissonance in those who try to hold onto objective realities. Like every philosophy that reject the existence of reality, pragmatism is wrong and will lead you to wrong conclusions. It’s wrong to think that Cruz can’t win, or that Trump is a better candidate based on the left’s rubric.
...and I wouldn’t have anything to stand on if not for the fact that practicing pragmatism has led us into where we are now: a country that’s a steaming pile of crap with no meaningful representation. None, that is, except a few reps and senators (one of which is running for president).