Posted on 02/19/2016 6:44:32 AM PST by Kaslin
As a supporter of Ted Cruz I have had many supporters of other candidates tell me that he would not be electable in the general election. I disagree.
Yes, Cruz is caricatured in social media and elsewhere as unlikable and as one who doesn't play well with others. He's too extreme and we need someone who can draw independents to win, and, once elected, unite us in bipartisan action. He just isn't as handsome as Rubio, they say.
Yet I have seen polls showing that Cruz is the most well-liked candidate among Republican voters, so you can't always rely on anecdotal evidence -- or expert commentary. The reason is that we all have a tendency to project our own feelings on to the general population.
How could Cruz get legislation through Congress if so many of his Senate colleagues don't like him now, ask the critics. We can't afford any more gridlock.
Well, one reason Cruz is unpopular among many of his colleagues is that he honored his campaign promises to stand up to President Obama and resist his wasteful, unreasonable budgets. Establishment members of Congress and pundits have preemptively declared defeat before each budget discussion. Their cookie-cutter analysis concluded that no matter how outrageous Obama's demands, Republicans would lose the PR battle because they are perceived as the party of less government.
Plus, critics maintained, the Republicans never had enough votes to filibuster or override a veto, so any strong resistance was foolish and would just make them look worse to the people and cause them to lose the next election. "Just wait until we regain power; then we'll be tough."
When Cruz, among very few others, listened to his constituents instead of the defeatists in his own party and proceeded to fight, he was castigated as a grandstander and manipulator who was placing himself above the party and the nation. I remember arguing with many of these people at the time that it is very important that Republicans take strong stands against Obama.
You see, I didn't believe Cruz was quixotic. I didn't view these budget battles solely in the short term. Rather, I had the long view in mind. I think there is some chance we even could have prevailed if Republicans had unanimously united in opposition to Obama's reckless budget submissions, but I was certain that if we didn't fiercely resist him and publicly make our case in the process, we would face serious consequences with the electorate that had twice resoundingly rejected Obama's agenda in the off-year congressional elections.
I have said before that the establishment gave birth to Donald Trump by surrendering to Obama too quickly and not vigorously opposing him. Indeed, I believe the Republicans' failure to join Cruz in these budget battles was a contributing factor. Their calculus about that always-looming next election should now be seen as folly. The grass roots simply didn't believe the GOP was fighting for them, and now we are all paying for it.
The grass roots believed that even conservative Republicans were too feckless or ineffective to oppose Obama's agenda, and many are overreacting and choosing Trump. They don't seem too concerned about whether he is a reliably consistent conservative, or about his record of supporting many liberal causes.
How ironic that Ted Cruz is being punished by people because few of his colleagues would stand with him against the establishment. He has, with his actions, demonstrated himself to be a far sharper thorn in the establishment's side than Trump and his rhetoric. Cruz is the guy that stood up to the establishment from the inside and proved he could not be pressured by his peers to go along to get along. Isn't that what the grass roots have been craving all these years?
It's also ironic that Trump is reputed to be the person who stands up to the establishment and get things done. But he is the one who has boasted in this campaign about his willingness to work with the establishment.
Ted Cruz is remarkably brilliant and has proved more than any politician in modern times that he will do in office precisely what he promises to do in the campaign. This isn't expedient rhetoric; it's his proven track record.
Concerning electability, Cruz, in a general election campaign, would articulate conservatism with a flair we haven't seen in a presidential campaign since Ronald Reagan. I have always believed that if conservative ideas are clearly and unapologetically communicated they will energize the base and attract millions of others. These are positive, optimistic, and contagious ideas that for decades haven't been presented clearly, without dilution, and with utterly authentic conviction.
Ted Cruz believes he can reignite the old Reagan coalition and lead us to victory. I firmly believe it too. And if he wins with such an unambiguous message, he will have the clearest of mandates to pursue his agenda with a Congress elected along with him.
Republicans and conservatives must not overreact and throw the hay out with the pitchforks, when we can have the real deal with Ted Cruz, who will steer America back on the right course, first reversing Obama's destructive agenda and then implementing conservative principles to restore America's glory.
This really isn't that complicated. Cruz is the conservative candidate conservatives have longed for, and it would be tragic if we squander what could be our last opportunity.
No, was it another poison pill?
Truth is it doesn't matter why. Republicans are supposed to be stopping Obama, not giving him Fast Track on another deal to kill America. Cruz is supposed to be supporting the Constitution not pushing for Fast Track which supplants Congressional authority. There is no good reason to support it.
David Limbaugh is ‘still fighting the last war’.
Like so many in the media, David is so invested in the ideological and political paradigms of the past, he can’t wrap his head around the cultural movement happening right before his eyes.
In this election, it’s less about R vs D, or conservative versus liberal - it’s about cleaning out the cess pool in Washington and doing what the American people want, for a change. We want the border secured, the illegals sent packing, the terrorists on the run, the taxes slashed, the jobs to come home, fedzilla reined in, Obamacare repealed, our military strengthened, political correctness crushed, and our domestic enemies defeated.
We want a sure, steady, and seasoned hand at the wheel over the next four to eight years. Someone who has demonstrated the ability to manage a large and complex operation like our government, in the real world. That person also must have his eye firmly fixed on correcting what’s actually ailing this country, not playing to his political base for brownie points.
In short, this country is in a state of near rebellion, and requires an extraordinary individual to guide us through the contentious processes of reclaiming our nation. That individual must have a rare sort of courage, and the kind of personality that naturally leads. A ‘take charge’ type of person who wins because he makes more right decisions than wrong decisions. Someone who will make a tough choice when he sees that it will benefit his people, but maybe not his party, or the elite classes.
David, this is why Trump is dominating the race, and is leaving the rest of the field so far behind. Wake up, man. Smell the revolution.
After having viewed this https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5UO3nn7awUk, I expect Trump would exacerbate the problem.
well said
Then I came back to this forum to cheat on the success ‘our side's was having by beating the establishment with a one-two punch to the head.
Aaaaand then I got attacked by Trump supporters for supporting Cruz.
I couldn't believe it. “He's greasy and no one likes him” -that was before the NBC comments from trump.
Then it went full on NBC combined with ‘greasy’ and other, non policy based assaults. It was all BS and invective. I was shocked.
Then Iowa.... The debate dodging seemed like a really bad thing to me. The threats, assaults on personality used by Trump and echoed with absolute glee by his supporters... I get angry, but really?
At this moment my heart has hardened. I will not hold my nose and vote again. I will write in Cruz if I must.
I don't know how DT can change my mind at this point. Trump's army here on FR has taken the negative aspects of his way of doing things and showed me what 4years of his leadership will do to the conservative message.
If what I've seen here is writ large by electing trump, the constitution is done for and we are looking at imperial presidents until the next civil war.
You're the one in freefall Doughty.
For the moment, it seem like we have a shortage of parachutes.
OK.
No, seems he was lied to but thanks for the reasoning.
Thanks.
Take care.........pilgrim
A suggestion: both sides have been way over the top with their most rabid supporters. Don’t take it personally that FR is having its primary melt down. It’s happened before.
If Cruz wins I’ll support him, he’d be head and shoulders above the dems.
I just think Trump is the better candidate for this time.
I’m most thankful it seems to be coming to a choice between the two of them, and Jeb has been exposed as a feckless candidate we don’t have to consider.
Cruz would be electable, but Trump would be a landslide...
Are these people not seeing the STADIUMS of people coming out to see him?
Then you would have a large number of GOP elected on his coattails.
Trump/Cruz would have been even better (I like both of them) for 16 years
You’re probably referring to the amendment he proposed for the bill submitted by the gang of 8 which exposed their lie of ‘legal status’ for illegals. http://www.factcheck.org/2015/12/did-cruz-support-legalization/ with your ‘was and is for legalization’ assertion. Disingenuous assertions, whether intended or just repeated, do not serve the truth.
I’ve heard, understand and agree with the reason Cruz supported TPA. Unlike most, it appears, I understand the difference between TPA and TPP, and how something like TPA has been necessary and in defacto use for 80 years.
http://paulryan.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=398270
Too many people aren’t doing their due diligence regarding the facts and the truth and/or are just haters.
TPA paves the way for TPP. Trade deals have never failed with Fast Track, it’s a vote for TPP just with some cover because it’s a political runaround the Constitution, allows Congress to abdicate their own responsibility.
LoL
Hey! “:^)
I enjoyed the eye-poking Trump was doing to the pc crowd, the leftists and the establishment. After watching a half dozen of his rallies, I noticed that there was a serious lack of substance to his events - all about him and his relationships and how he was going to do this and that with no explanations.
When he began turning on those he was “good friends” with merely days before, I began to smell a rat. It's gotten continuously worse for me since then. The breaking straw for me was a suppressed documentary (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5UO3nn7awUk) that admittedly, I haven't been able to watch completely, yet.
This thread is better than most I've seen on FR of late. Honest, reasoned discussion in an environment of open minded pursuit of what's best for our families and country is what I've loved about FR in the past. It has moved toward being a cesspool of vitriol as more Trump supporters descend into the same deceitful, ad hominem and patronizing methods used by Trump his whole adult life.
I fear we will rue having allowed a Trump presidency almost as much as an obama one and I also believe Cruz is the only chance the U.S.A. has to turn back from becoming like a euro-state, or worse, a part of the caliphate.
He came back on my radar when he ran for the Senate.
Cruz talked about common sense solutions to the problems that mattered to me and after doing further research.....I cautiously gave him my vote, truly expecting him to turn into another Cornyn as soon as he got to Washington.
I've watched him day in....and day out, almost "impatiently waiting" for him to go "turncoat" over the things he promised in Texas.....and he never did.
I don't care how many of you "hate" him and I don't care if his fellow Senators, the media or the GOPe hate him. He will get my vote again this primary because he's EARNED IT by doing exactly what he promised me he would do.
So here's hoping you have as much faith in your candidate's promises as I do mine.......and may America chose wisely this year.
BTTT
-—They support Trump so that they can commit character assassinations against conservatives even on formerly conservative forums like this one
I will speak for myself. I am a registered dem out of necessity (long story). I have not voted since Perot. I voted twice for Reagan before that, and once for old “Read my Lips”. This country, through Clinton’s and Bush’s has gone down the toilet.
I don’t care about assassinating conservatives. I don’t care about assassinating liberals. I usually just mind my own beeswax, because it’s a waste of time.
Liberals are rubes because they think that giving to their candidates will improve black neighborhoods or give blacks more rights jobs. All nonsense. It will never happen because liberals need that stuff to raise money. (blacks are the biggest rubes on this front).
Conservatives are rubes because they think giving to their candidates will change the courts or end abortion. All nonsense as well. Again, politicians need this stuff to raise money.
This all started with the Bush’s. I can tell you that. I didn’t see such corruption before. The Clinton’s carried it on. So, those of the Clinton/Bush school of politics in my opinion (not that it matters), ushered in a whole new type of politician, one that actually works to create behind the scenes gerrymandered fighting causes.
Think I’m kidding? In my state we usually have a Republican governor. Each time they promise to clean up Cook County and the corruption. But guess what? I end up having to give their campaigns as well, and BIG. What happens? Nothing, they fund-raise year after year telling us businesses that they are going to clean it up (if only they win this next election), and they are so close to doing so... gee with just a little more help WE CAN GET IT DONE! B.S.
It is not in the interest of any politician to get anything done. They’ve learned the golden rule of government. If government employee is paid $1,000 an hour to fix something, it will NEVER get fixed, I promise you that. It will always be “almost fixed” “we are almost there!” “A little more money!”.
Now, don’t get me wrong, I’m from Chicago, and corruption runs very deep. We are the masters of it. But, back in my day (geeze I sound like my dad), if you greased the Daley Machine (the old man), you GOT results. Now, it’s different. Politics is different. Even back then, the post office worked and made a profit. School wanted and DID get results. Now, no government entity wants results. Hell even our military leaders do their best to make sure we don’t get the job done. WE CAN, but we don’t. It’s more profitable to let the job go on and on and on and on.
Start paying government workers and politicians on their results, and you will have a very different outcome.
So called “conservatives” but how has that worked out? Scott Brown? Paul Ryan? Even Denny Hastert. What did he accomplish in his years as speaker? They accomplish NOTHING. The same for Jesse Jackson, or Barak, or the Clintons, what have they done for blacks? NOTHING.
I imagine things would have been done already, ie gotten better WITHOUT politicians, as opposed to having them their.
The country is against partial birth abortion (by a pretty good margin), yet the issue still hangs around DESPITE efforts of officials. Why? Blacks still are pushed down, not by regular folks, but by the schools they go to, the environment they live in. Why? Where did all the money go? Despite overwhelming financial support for these causes... it hasn’t changed, nor will it, without a major shakeup, and by shakeup, I mean someone else who can come in and say “see we can”. Someone who doesn’t study politics in college, who didn’t study law, someone who doesn’t know how to “get along”.
Sorry for the long post.
post to all regarding my above, sorry for the typos and bad sentence structure, I was interrupted a few times, I’m working right now sitting in my truck, so I lost train of thought while posting, and meandered a bit.
That’s like saying allowing gun ownership leads to murders.
With bad actors only bad results can be reasonably expected.
The useless congress with a lawless executive (and supreme court) we have had means no law will make any difference. If we are able to change our governments direction, we need good guidance for them to do their job.
Providing a well controlled means for the executive and legislative to accomplish international trade negotiations in good faith is necessary to realizing good trade agreements.
You wouldn’t waste your time negotiating a business agreement when you know the other negotiator couldn’t speak for those who made the final decision on the other side, would you? That’s what TPA was about - giving potential trade partners some basis to believe that their efforts are being spent in good faith.
I think the over the top stuff happens every election cycle, the slicing and dicing gets piled on by us overly rabid posters to one degree or the other, and a lot of average every day posters are the worst.
It's been the case here since I came on to FR at the end of 2,000.
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