Washington Loves Donald Trump More Than Ted Cruz

The Resurgent ^ | January 21, 2016 | Erick Erickson

[Isara]

For months, Donald Trump’s core supporters have told the nation that they do not care if Donald Trump offends anyone. Everyone is so fixated on being liked, they’ve become politically correct unwilling and unable to offend anyone.

Suddenly, however, the Washington political class is attacking Ted Cruz for being unlikable and the very Trump supporters who love that Trump offends the politically correct now think it is a reason to vote against Ted Cruz that Washington hates him.

Are you people not paying attention?

Former Senator Bob Dole, who ran against Ronald Reagan declaring Reagan would be the death of the GOP, has declared he would rather have Donald Trump than Ted Cruz while endorsing Jeb Bush.

Former Senator Trent Lott, who has regularly attacked the tea party and conservative activists, has declared that Trump is preferable to Ted Cruz.

Iowa Governor Terry Branstad, whose son is an ethanol lobbyist, has declared Cruz must be defeated at all costs.

Lobbyists on K Street are savaging Cruz and declaring Trump to be preferable.

The Republican opinion class declares Ted Cruz satanic while suggesting Trump would be malleable enough on principles to win.

The Washington political establishment would prefer Donald Trump to Ted Cruz because they see Donald Trump is more likely to preserve their access to power and status quo. Suddenly Donald Trump’s campaign thinks being hated by Washington disqualifies Ted Cruz for office after campaigning for months on how much he’d rock Washington’s world. Does it not bear just a little skepticism on the part of his supporters that suddenly being liked by Washington matters?

And it’s not like Washington’s hatred of Ted Cruz is made up. They’ve been attacking him since he got there. They’ve also, by the way, been coddling up to Donald Trump since 2011 and seeking his money.

[Isara]

"Suddenly, however, the Washington political class is attacking Ted Cruz for being unlikable and the very Trump supporters who love that Trump offends the politically correct now think it is a reason to vote against Ted Cruz that Washington hates him."

[LS]

Eric the Red’s latest strategy, try to make Trump the insider when Ol Cruzie is in fact the insider. Now, he may be banished to the cloakroom, but he IS the insider of the two.
Erick knows it, you know it, and thankfully the voters know it.

[Behind the Blue Wall]

This is rich. Now, after months of “Trump won’t be the nominee”, it’s “Trump’s the establishment candidate!”. Gimme a break.

[ifinnegan]

Trump is not GOPe.

He is way beyond that.

[inpajamas]

What we are seeing with Trump is a nationalistic populist movement sucking in a lot of good patriotic people. People better figure Trump out pretty quick or we will be in more trouble than we are already in. Trump is no true conservative, but for a few slip-ups that betray him, he could get an Oscar for his performance. This is no more than 1930s and 2008 populism déjà vu in a completely different cloak. Trump is using the modus operandi described in Eric Hoffer's 1951 book, "The True Believer" - Thoughts On The Nature Of Mass Movements. Trump has found a void and has created a cult following. He is taking legitimate issues and concerns and using them to generate a fanatical mass movement of "True Believers" -- intoxicated Trumpaholics, and Tump is their cult leader. There is no way to talk to many of them; their minds have been snatched. Many will not realize the fantasy until it all falls down. History repeats. It is déjà vu all over again.

[SubMareener]

Oh Noes! Trump is done!

[TornadoAlley3]

I wonder why no one in Washington stood with Cruz when he shut down govt? Why can't Ted work with anyone in his party, not the Dems. No one joined him. Why?

I know Mike Lee supports him. Sessions speaks highly, but can he put together a coalition of conservatives? How will he get his agenda through Congress?

[Proud2BeRight]

The last thing the establishment wants is a conservative so if they can’t hold the White House they will take the liberal Trump. He will “deal” with them and their Democrat friends.

[FourPeas]

Cronyism NY rather than DC-style. Less finesse, more in-your-face. The Archie Bunker version of Barack Obama.

[Lakeshark]

Now I'm convinced. He's a GOPe plant.

I'll never vote for Trump.

/s for those who need it......

[Will88]

Oh, yeah, Washington is really in love with Trump. Pure BS, and an example of how far the Trump bashers have to stoop to try and damage his campaign.

Another big miss.

And from Erick Erickson at that.

[pgkdan]

I always thought that Erickson was a jackass...I'm glad that he's used this primary season to remove all doubt!

Trump's a liberal...didn't work
Trump's a liar...didn't work
Trump's a phony...didn't work
Trump's only in it for the publicity...didn't work
Trump's only running to help Hillary...didn't work
Trump's a bigot...didn't work

Now we have the latest attack on Trump. He's the secret sweetheart of the ESTABLISHMENT! My guess? Won't work!

[tennmountainman]

Based on national polls, so do Americans.

[LS]

American is the word you’re looking for.

[Gunpowder green]

Whichever way this pans out, K-street loses. Both Trump and Cruz are “outsiders” in some sense, and neither one would be the first choice of the beltway leeches who thrive on federal grants and contracts.

Who cares what the tapeworms want? I’m just glad that we’ve apparently skunked them on this round, whether it’s Trump or Cruz.

[chae]

Yeah because cozying up with Mitch McConnell screams anti-establishment

[McGruff]

Erick Erickson is a Glenn Beck wannabee.

[McGruff]

[Critical One]

While Ted Cruz did not get the endorsement of Sarah,
and will never have the endorsement of the GOPe,
he DOES have the endorsement of many conservatives
both current and former members of congress, etc.
Check his website for the latest list.

I’ve seen enough of Trump to know that he is all hot air.

I’ll take any of the other GOP candidates before I vote for Trump.

[Ladysforest]

“I wonder why no one in Washington stood with Cruz when he shut down govt? Why can’t Ted work with anyone in his party, not the Dems. No one joined him. Why?

I know Mike Lee supports him. Sessions speaks highly, but can he put together a coalition of conservatives? How will he get his agenda through Congress?”

“The last thing the establishment wants is a conservative so if they can’t hold the White House they will take the liberal Trump. He will “deal” with them and their Democrat friends.”

~but can he put together a coalition of conservatives? How will he get his agenda through Congress?(Cruz)
~He will “deal” with them and their Democrat friends.(Trump)

So, Trump would be bad for hashing out deals in our favor, and Cruz has going in his favor (?) that he is so ultra-conservative that he won’t work with anyone unless he gets everything he wants? THIS is the thing I am hearing all over the place from the Cruz folks.