Posted on 01/15/2016 5:58:19 AM PST by reaganaut1
...
Mr. Cruz did not just dominate much of the Republican debate, he slashed, he mocked, he charmed and he outmaneuvered everybody else onstage - but none as devastatingly and as thoroughly as this campaign’s most commanding performer, Donald J. Trump.
In the process Mr. Cruz - the high school student who once recited the Constitution from memory and the Princeton debater who dazzled judges with his ability to entrap less shrewd rivals - showed the American public that his surging candidacy is not a fluke.
Twenty six minutes into what had been a slug-free evening, a moderator asked Mr. Cruz about a question that Mr. Trump has mischievously injected into their neck-and-neck competition: whether Mr. Cruz's Canadian birth disqualifies him from serving as president.
Mr. Cruz was ready. He started off with an expression of generosity.
"You know, back in September my friend Donald said he had had his lawyers look at this every which way," he said, his hands sweeping the air to dismiss the topic.
"There was nothing to this, this birther issue," Mr. Cruz said, mimicking the man standing directly to his right.
He paused to let that sink in, as the crowd began to applaud. Then he delivered the blow.
"Now, since September the Constitution hasn’t changed," Mr. Cruz said, as the rising applause rose to a roar. "But the poll numbers have."
Hoots and hollers came from the convention hall in South Carolina.
A genuine and unfamiliar expression - nervousness - crept across Mr. Trump’s face. He clenched the podium. His leg jiggled.
But Mr. Cruz was not done.
He offered a law professor's allocution on the subject of foreign-born citizens' eligibility for the American presidency.
"The facts and the law here are really quite clear," Mr. Cruz said.
(Excerpt) Read more at nytimes.com ...
Woah. Cruz’s wife should keep an eye on this guy.
In the process Mr. Cruz - the high school student who once recited the Constitution from memory and the Princeton debater who dazzled judges with his ability to entrap less shrewd rivals - showed the American public that his surging candidacy is not a fluke."
Finally, a NY Slimes article worth reading!
Cruz did not do well when Rubio when on his 11 point sling match but it was unfair to cut Cruz off and not let him fully respond.
I don’t think anyone has ever dismissed Cruz’ debating skills.
... Mr. Cruz has repeatedly been described as the least liked among the Republican candidates. That may still be true. But to the audience, he kept ways to show a different side — a slyly humorous and even personable one.
Know one has mentioned that I have heard Trump getting booed.
Anyone else? Media black out?
Maria said it was so sweet, Ted kept going to his youngest daughter during each break.
Bambi and DT are so alike in trashing MSM and all opposition, I really don’t want to have 4 more years of that.
I missed the debate. Looks like I’ll need to find it online somewhere.
Debate doesn’t clear out status quo - a bulldozer does.
It’s extremely obvious who the bulldozer is.
“Cruz did not do well when Rubio when on his 11 point sling match but it was unfair to cut Cruz off and not let him fully respond”
Maybe half of Marco’s accusations had any merit at all. The disturbing part was the other half were utter fabrications straight from the GOPe.
That is true, and taken a step further is oratory and debating skills what the country needs? Or does it need someone who is geared to fix things like corporate inversion? I’ve never heard any other candidate speak even one word about corporate inversion.
That match up shows Rubio is on the path of Slick Willy proportions. He knew he could sling it out in rapid fire response and Cruz was not going to get the time to answer everything. Cruz can do it today. But the damage was done.
If you have seen Alpha House, I think Andy Guzman is Marco Rubio. Of course, I don’t believe Rubio is a sex addict like Guzman.
Cruz can be in President Trump’s cabinet as the Sec. of Debate.
NY Slimes is wrong. Trump dominated. Trump interjected and got the last word on the birth issue. Cruz got hammered on NY values and still is. And Rubio got the best of Cruz in their exchange.
bullshitter, you mean
I think Rubio deliberately held off on delivering that little tirade until near the end so Cruz would not have an opportunity to respond and clarify. That was a hit job.
Careful that your bulldozer doesn’t turn out to be a honey wagon.
Hillary Clinton talks about corporate inversion all the time. So does Sanders. THose are your candidates.
Yes, we need oratory skills. If you want to win, you have to change people’s minds.
Makes sense. The candidates have shown they will not answer the question posed to them and go off on whatever they want to talk about. It was a tactical decision made by the GOPe and Cruz had no time to really respond.
Oh, yes, we all heard it. It’s just that it is too uncomfortable for some people to talk about.
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