Posted on 01/22/2016 6:00:21 AM PST by Kaslin
Former Senator Bob Dole entered the 1980 Republican presidential primary to stop Ronald Reagan. At the time, Dole declared Reagan would be deeply destructive to the Republican Party. When no one rallied to Dole he called for former President Gerald Ford to get into the Republican primary to stop Reagan.
Ford did not get in. Reagan did not destroy the Republican Party. Reagan, in fact, became the standard bearer for the party. It is worth noting that every Republican nominee since Reagan, with the exception of John McCain in 2008, actively opposed Ronald Reagan in 1980.
Bob Dole is back. Having surrendered to Bill Clinton in 1996, then caved on a government shutdown the day before Clinton intended to surrender, Dole wants Americans to know they should not vote for Ted Cruz. Cruz, according to Dole, is too divisive. Dole, who endorsed Jeb Bush, said he would prefer Donald Trump to Ted Cruz.
Former senate majority leader Trent Lott chimed in as well. He too would support Donald Trump over Ted Cruz. According to Lott, Cruz disrupted the decorum of the Senate and was not a nice guy to work with. Lott's criticisms echo those of Donald Trump. Trump thinks Ted Cruz should not have called Mitch McConnell, the current senate majority leader, a liar.
The dividing lines are shaping upc 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.
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?
This strategy by the Establishment of the Republican Party is in part because they really do prefer Trump to Cruz. It is also in part that the Establishment thinks once it dispatches Ted Cruz it has a shot at either co-opting Donald Trump or beating him. The party leaders are in denial about the situation. At a time Congress has an approval rating lower than pond scum, Ted Cruz is now the most popular Republican in the field because he stood up to the Washington Republicans.
It helps no one but Cruz for Republican leaders to come out and attack him and say nice things about Trump. Some Trump supporters have suggested this was all a trap. They have suggested that the Republican leaders are saying nice things about Trump and bashing Cruz in order to help Cruz. The problem with that logic is that Donald Trump is now echoing their concerns and also defending Senator Mitch McConnell. The other problem is that Ted Cruz's relationship with Washington's Republican leaders has never been a secret.
Republicans in Washington are comfortable with Donald Trump as someone who will not rock their boat or upset the status quo. They already know from Cruz's history that he intends to shake up Washington, and many of them could find themselves on an unemployment line. With a week to go until the Iowa caucus, Washington Republicans will side with Trump and do their best to bruise and stop Ted Cruz. Payback and power are more important to Washington Republicans than principle.
Folks, what we’re seeing is chaos in the Republican elitist ranks. It’s a thing of beauty.
BS.
The GOPe has always been “Anybody But Cruz!”.
They don’t want Trump, but they think it will be easier for their RINO down-ticket candidates, especially Senators, to distance themselves from Trump than Cruz.
They want one of their RINO candidates to win.
They are counting on being able to deal with a deal-maker.
Trump is firm on national sovereignty issues, but pretty much a pragmatist on everything else. He won’t be held to anything he has said on anything. Cruz, on the other hand, is an ideologue with clear philosophical principles. He won’t be as easy to bargain with.
Because the border and sovereignty issues are that important, and Trump is the only other one talking believably about them, he remains my #2 choice. And frankly GOPe are not thrilled about a Trump presidency. But Cruz is the guy they really, really don’t want. I think they are responding to Trump’s comments about Cruz’s supposed nastiness as an indication they can deal with him. I don’t know that this is true, but they believe it. Which is why, when push comes to shove, if there are no other choices, they will prefer Trump to Cruz.
Trent Lott and turkey-neck have done far more to disrupt the decorum of the senate than Cruz ever has.
Mitch McConnell IS a liar, Cruz is absolutely correct to call him such.
The Doles and the Lotts et al, still don’t get that THEY are the ones we are so angry at, THEY are the reason we support Trump or Cruz.
I will vote for the candidate that will make those slimy gope bastards’ heads explode the fastest.
“BS. The GOPe has always been “Anybody But Cruz!â€.
They don’t want Trump, but they think it will be easier for their RINO down-ticket candidates, especially Senators, to distance themselves from Trump than Cruz. They want one of their RINO candidates to win.”
You nailed it! The GOPe will do whatever it takes to take out both Trump and Cruz...if they can get to the convention without any candidate over 50%, then the party apparatus can take over...
What chaos?...the GOP are flocking to Trump because they know he will use your tax dollars to line their pockets. Can’t you see, they all have their hands out already, and Donald Trump is already telling them that he will make “deals” with them. Better hold onto your pocketbook, because Donald Trump is an especially BIG SPENDER when it comes to other people’s money.
The ugliness from the GOPe was to be expected, what I find appalling is the joyful slander from the unwashed masses within our own party. Here we have one of the most talented and principled conservatives to run since Reagan and some of us have no problem slinging the sleaziest, worthless personal attacks just to further their populist bandwagon. Truly sad. The candidates ought to be judged on their position on real issues but instead we’re wallowing in the mire.
“He won’t be held to anything he has said on anything.”
How could he, having come down on every possible side of the issues in the last 10 years?
You guys just can’t stop, can you?
... Republicans in Washington are comfortable with Donald Trump as someone who will not rock their boat or upset the status quo.
If only trumpees cared. They will point this as further proof that DT is the answer to everything.
Indeed it is quite telling the establishment’s embracing of DT.
First let me pay homage to Bob Doles military record which few would argue “is second to none” and I’ve always admired him for that.
That said, he’s “always” been a GOPe compromising all the time and all the way with the marxist/socialist democrat politicians. Dole is the left ventricle of the heart of GOPe dogma ergo his opinions on Cruz and Trump should be taken with a half grain of salt.
Bloated blogger (EE) backs Ted Sachs. Good for a laugh every time.
......you know I love Ted, I shook hands with him and got one minute of his time a few weeks back, and I will vote for him in the Texas Primary, and I still contribute monthly to him. But, the writing is on the wall and 2016 is just Donald Trump’s year. He’s clearly going to win the nomination and I think the General.
So, all things Ted are just MOOT right now until and IF something big happens. And, ya never know!
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