Posted on 01/19/2016 12:49:55 PM PST by JSDude1
There's an assumption among casual consumers of politics that establishment Republicans loathe Donald Trump. Not really true. Yes, they worry about what Trump might do downballot to the GOP if he is the nominee. But most view him with some mix of puzzlement and fascination. The Republican establishment saves its actual hatred for one man and one man only: Ted Cruz.
Witness Terry Branstad, the four-term governor of Iowa and, without question, the face of the Republican establishment in the state. On Tuesday, he told reporters that he wants to see Cruz beaten in the Iowa caucuses in 13 days -- a remarkable admission by a sitting incumbent of such long standing.
Yes, I know that Branstad's reason for opposing Cruz is that the Texas senator opposes the Renewable Fuel Standard -- a key provision for Iowa's ethanol industry. (Cruz says he supports ethanol and biofuels generally but opposes all subsidies and mandates for the energy industry.) And yes, I know that Branstad's son is spearheading a group promoting biofuels and making sure the presidential candidates address the issue.
Even so, it is an amazing testament to how widely disliked Cruz is by the party establishment that Branstad is willing to go on the record against him this close to the caucuses. Normally
(Excerpt) Read more at washingtonpost.com ...
I do believe Cruz has similar feelings for the establishment.
Establishment Fears and Hates Cruz
fears hates anyone they didn’t bless.
F’em as there not Repubs
that’s one of the best imaginable reasons to vote for him
Can't wait for the Trumpbots to come in and twist this into a reason to oppose Cruz - "See! he can't even get along with Republicans! How could he be an effective President?"
THEN AMERICA - THE PEOPLE should love him!
I don’t want someone who “gets along with” McConnell, McCain, Pelosi, Boehner, or Ryan, etc
I want someone who will fight them (and Cruz is one of the candidates who could possibly score a few victories against the Sell-Outs, too)
He seemed really, really excited by that fact.
You need three reallys for this to work. Two is just insulting.
That’s the best endorsement I’ve seen.
And .. the “Establishment” hated Reagan the same.
Something for the Trumpsters to chew on.
“that’s one of the best imaginable reasons to vote for him”
Bears repeating.
Which was the exact purpose for this article.
They want Cruz nominated.
That’s why Jeb is calling him a jerk?
Hmmmmmm. It's almost as though all Trump cares about is winning (principles be damned), and his anti-establishment posture is just him reading his audience, like any good salesmen (and Trump is nothing of not a good salesman).
“They want Cruz nominated.”
You made me laugh so hard I think I bruised a rib.
Oh yes they are.
The GOP has never been more than a flag of convenience for conservatives, who are politically homeless even if they occasionally forget it — to their eventual chagrin.
During the ole Hanging Chad debate in Florida 2000 I got so mad hearing about yet another recount, I yelled so hard at the radio that I broke two ribs on my left side. Ha
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