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.
Hey thanks for the new word: "myrmidon"!
I'm a true believer in conservatism which I recognize in Cruz and not at all in Trump who is not only a false option but far more dangerous than Bush, Dole, McCain and Romney all contemptable squishes but not an orgiastic hellion like Trump.
Trump is not only unelectable but so terrifying that he will stimulate the 47%ers into panic voting.
Even the most self-loathing death-cult liberals don't want to imagine themselves being consumed in a nuclear holocaust because Trump want's to "win".
How would anyone who's lived through the past 7 yrs with Obama talk about trade in good faith. Obama shouldn't be allowed anywhere near a trade deal and why does it have to be done during Obama's administration.
Cruz and Rubio also voted against an amendment to keep China out of TPP.
What was Cruz's excuse for that? If you want to know why Cruz and Rubio vote this way, follow the money.
I prefer your explanation more myself.
It makes me feel more humane.
:-)
When did he cast the vote for the TPA, because I did a search and found quite a lot of Republicans did too.
TPA has been around for a hundred years. This latest one is not any different. It’s not a mystery that states with a lot of exports, like Washington with airplanes, Iowa with ag equipment and products, and Texas with oil and tech equipment, would have senators supporting Trade Promotion Authority.
Cruz is a phony. Yes, he was and is for legalization of illegals already here. Will send you links if you like. but here's where he argued for more power for Obama because his pro-corporate donors said to:
Ted Cruz joins the establishment
He was sent to Washington to fight Obama, not to advocate for more power.
Alexander (R-TN), Barrasso (R-WY), Blunt (R-MO), Boozman (R-AR) Burr (R-NC), Capito (R-WV), Cassidy (R-LA), Coats (R-IN), Cochran (R-MS), Corker (R-TN), Cornyn (R-TX), Cotton (R-AR), Crapo (R-ID), Cruz (R-TX), Daines (R-MT), Ernst (R-IA), Fischer (R-NE), Flake (R-AZ), Gardner (R-CO), Hatch (R-UT), Heller (R-NV), Hoeven (R-ND), Inhofe (R-OK), Isakson (R-GA), Johnson (R-WI), Kirk (R-IL), Lankford (R-OK), Lee (R-UT), McCain (R-AZ), McConnell (R-KY), Murkowski (R-AK), Perdue (R-GA), Risch (R-ID), Roberts (R-KS), Rounds (R-SD), Rubio (R-FL), Sasse (R-NE), Scott (R-SC), Sullivan (R-AK), Thune (R-SD), Tillis (R-NC), Toomey (R-PA), Vitter (R-LA), Wicker (R-MS)
Ayotte (R-NH), Collins (R-ME), Graham (R-SC), Grassley (R-IA), Moran (R-KS), Paul (R-KY), Portman (R-OH), Sessions (R-AL), Shelby (R-AL)
Kaslin,
Just like for the statements posted be truthful.
Dislike “truthful hyperbole” on both sides.
Take care.........pilgrim
Marco Rubio Casts Deciding Vote For Obamatrade Without Even Reading It
Cruz got TPA to the finish line then they didn't need him for final vote, Rubio cast 60th vote. But Cruz voted for cloture to end debate and move towards final vote and Cruz and Rubio voted against bill to block China.
Do you acknowledge that Ted is getting money from donors for oil, corporate, etc. donors like Robert Mercer, "a Long Island hedge fund magnate"?
How do you think anyone except Trump can run for President without obligating to special interests? It takes millions of dollars, maybe billions all told. Where else will these guys get the money? And why else would the donors give the money if they have no upside.?
There will be time for Cruz after he is better seasoned and after Trump has saved the Republic. The other way around wouldn’t work and wouldn’t end well.
I like Trump first, Cruz second. If Trump loses, we are looking at a Rino. Probably Rubio.
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The masses supporting Donald Trump will awaken too late to realize what they have missed and come to realize that they have anointed a white Obama to the White House.
Another narcissist at the America's helm to drive it ever so faster over the cliff.
He is just as much a charlatan as Hillary. So what is the difference to who will ruin America the most.
That is why I will stand with Senator Ted Cruz and not hold my nose for the liberal Donald Trump
It has been a setup. The fix was always in. We, the Republic, have been loosing a war of financial attrition for decades. We, the Republic are engaged in a war with those who govern us. Drastic measures are required to defeat this enemy in order to stop the bleeding that each of us are seeing in the depreciation of our savings, the constant onslaught of taxes, fees, and licenses. Each of them designed to remove our ability to live free.
If a slave is a person who works for no money, then a paid person who works with no money left for savings or investment is therefore a slave.
The Communists are very good at planning each move, they have been at it for over sixty years, to bury us. They are so close to succeeding.
Trump has stepped in and has sensed our rage.We want to throw our shoes into the machinery. We want to turn over the apple carts and toss tea into the harbor. Trump is giving us a voice. He is giving our children and grandchildren a fighting chance of enjoying the life that our parents fought and spilled blood in Europe and Japan so as to impart liberty to ourselves.
No, we will no longer hide in the shadow of political correctness.
No, we will no longer stand idle in the face of the globalist Red Menace.
No, we will not play the game of choosing which Socialist will rob our children.
No, we will not play the game of choosing which Socialist will import an army of decapitating, lawless, savages into our home to eradicate Freedom and the American Way.
ANY and EVERY politician who will not build a wall is declaring he/she DOES NOT CARE IF YOU DIE!
I do not think Trump is a conservative.
I do not think Trump is morally pious and pure.
I do not think Trump is void of indiscretions or mistakes.
I do believe that any candidate that is a true conservative, morally pure, pious, and has walked the straight and narrow...would not stand a chance against the the globalist red menace that is systematically deconstructing our nation.
No, far from it.
Right now we need our own paladin of chaotic malice with a depraved sense of overly vengeful justice that will stand not for giving quarter. Right now we need our own Son of a Bitch glorious bastard, faults and all. We need to stomp out the treachery of political correctness that perpetuates racial discontent and has created Europe-istan, a Nuclear Iran, as well as ushering in a new world order of penniless servitude consisting of the entire earthly population bowing to but a few of the elite socialist megalomaniacs.
We need our own monster.
Ted Cruz may well be as advertised. No one knows. Four years ago, no one knew who he was.
He is young, deploy the Trump Bomb now, it is an ugly weapon of mass destruction that will result in some collateral damage, but it is required.
Alas, we have run out of time.
It will take many Ted Cruz clones to restore order in the aftermath.
“(I note that many of the House Freedom Caucus have endorsed Cruz)”
Isn’t that the same group that endorsed Ryan?
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