You don't work with politicians much, do you?
Posted on 06/30/2016 12:30:48 PM PDT by Sybeck1
For his own sake and the country's, the conservative stalwart should stand behind Trump
Aside from saying on Monday that he isn’t bothered one way or the other about being given a speaking slot at the GOP convention, Ted Cruz has been noticeably absent from the public eye since exiting the 2016 contest. One would think that a committed constitutionalist like Cruz would be doing everything he can to prevent Hillary Clinton from becoming president. But even if Cruz isn’t willing to stand side-by-side with Trump to that end, he should at least be willing to do so for his own self-interest.
The fact is that while Cruz may worry that associating with Trump could damage his doctrinaire conservative brand in the eyes of ideological die-hards and those evangelicals hitherto resistant to Trump’s apparent charms, the alternative should Clinton win — being cast as one of those who stood by and did nothing as Clinton waltzed into the White House — could be much worse.
If Cruz’s authentic conservative brand is hurt by association with Trump, it will be hurt just as much — if not more — by association with the Jonah Goldbergs and the Bill Kristols of the world.
There’s also the basic fact of human nature that no one likes a sore loser, and being seen as one can be a significant handicap in the political world. Hillary Clinton’s belated though relatively graceful acquiescence to Obama’s nomination in 2008 likely secured her position as secretary of state, while Richard Nixon’s embittered exit from the 1962 California gubernatorial election almost cost him his entire political career.
Blaming biased media coverage in large part for his loss to Democratic Gov. Pat Brown, Nixon lashed out at reporters. “You don’t have Nixon to kick around any more, because, gentlemen, this is my last press conference,” he said.
Indeed, were it not for an outrageously biased anti-Nixon documentary which aired on ABC the week after the election — so biased in fact that it managed to garner Nixon national sympathy — his political career would likely have been over.
But Nixon is that rare exception that proves the political rule, and if enough of the conservative base considers even for a moment that Cruz’s refusal to stand publicly with Trump against Clinton was motivated by ill feeling toward Trump, he may lose a significant amount of credibility.
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PoliZette The Case for a Cruz-Trump Coalition The ugly battle between the populist front-runners provides Rubio an opening to win it all Cruz could also be of great help to Trump's electoral efforts. If Trump loses, it will likely be largely the result of a concerted and biased media campaign, as was the case for Mitt Romney in 2012. But as he proved during the GOP primaries, Cruz is one of the most effective critics of media bias, far more so than Trump, who often appears personal and petty.
Moreover, forming a new relationship with Trump could also be strategically advantageous for Cruz. That Cruz is massively unpopular among his fellow senators on both sides of the aisle is a well known fact. "I get along with almost everyone, but I have never worked with a more miserable son of a bitch in my life," former GOP Speaker of the House John Boehner said.
Lindsey Graham famously noted that if "you killed Ted Cruz on the floor of the Senate, and the trial was in the Senate, nobody would convict you." Indeed, to call Cruz unpopular may be an understatement. If Trump should win in November, a repaired, working relationship with the business mogul would offer Cruz a level of clout in the Senate — which for him is otherwise unattainable.
Regardless of any desire Cruz may have to run again in 2020, he should get involved in the 2016 contest now. The potential benefits — both for himself and the country — seem to far outweigh the potential disadvantages.
IF YOU LIKE THIS, READThe Hypocrites Have Left the Building
*MSM
The best thing Cruz could do to save our Republic AND save himself politically would be to make the equivalent of a Nixon ‘Checkers’ speech, confess each and every one of his wrong doings, admit that his behavior has been abominable, his ego had taken over, but he cannot in good conscience allow Hillary Clinton to effectively become Obama’s third term, and that he will do all he can to support and see Donald Trump elected as President of the United States.
That would earn him a LOT of credit across the board. At this point he’s got nowhere to go but UP, I wouldn’t bet a plugged nickel on his chances of even being re-elected in 2018 unless he can re-invent himself.
Ted Cruz was no hope at all. Do try to get over it.
Thanks for all that, although I do not recall asking for your help.
You don’t need to ask. You posted on FR and any of us can feel free to respond. If you want a secret private forum you will have to try someplace else.
You don't work with politicians much, do you?
Too bad Peter Lorre's no longer with us. He'd be perfect playing Cruz
BOL!
+1!
“Concern that Ted Cruz’s silence might hurt Trump implies the belief that Trump is extremely vulnerable.”
Extremely vulnerable? Of course he is. He has the entire stupid, deranged left against him and the majority of the mealy-mouthed Republicans who have their heads so far up their butts that they’re peering out of their belly buttons. The media is 100% anti-Trump 24/7, and they’ve finally figured out that the best way to hurt him isn’t to give him any exposure, while constantly promoting The Witch as God’s gift to little children, flowers and the continued existence of humankind. Vulnerable? You bet. On an optimistic day, I like to think that we-the-people know better - but we-the-people also elected Obama to a second term, too. I have NO confidence that America won’t elect Hillary because it thinks it would be “neat” to have a woman as President.
Smoke and mirrors...Good cop, bad cop...Cruz is one of them right down to the bone...
Gee, thanks again...although it’s a shame your contributions weren’t more substantive. Maybe that will change for you in the future.
Sure, I’m stating the obvious. Why is it so difficult for you to grasp these points?
Probably working on his 2018 re-election campaign. And likewise, I’m waiting for his primary opponent to emerge.
Cruz has not been the stand up person I thought him to be. He should back Donald Trump and keep the election honest. I am from Texas and I vote.
You Trump people are so disgusting I am not sure I will vote for him. If he is anywhere near as nasty as you guys maybe Hillary would be better. Have to think about this one. Maybe Trump supporters are a bunch of haters.
There is no way conservatives can unite with attitudes like this. We will see.
Who cares?
I never cared where Waldo was.
Sounds like Joe McCarthy, eh? Maybe that’s Ted’s role now - Joe II?
Fat fingers. Meant to type:
Thanks for that link. Ted took it to Jeh.
The biggest battles were fought on that Eastern Front and decimated a huge number of Germany’s best troops. About 4 million killed. It was the largest collision of forces in military history.
If those troops had been available in the west it’s very unlikely that we could have succeeded in mounting a successful invasion.
‘If Cruz’s authentic conservative brand is hurt by association with Trump, it will be hurt just as much — if not more — by association with the Jonah Goldbergs and the Bill Kristols of the world. ‘
And let’s not forget that Modern Prophet from Planet Kolob, Glenn Beck
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