Posted on 07/20/2016 6:32:36 AM PDT by lodi90
CLEVELAND (AP) -- Sen. Ted Cruz's Texas-size political ambitions will be on full display Wednesday as the primary runner-up delivers a prime-time convention speech, but holds off on a full-throated endorsement of Republican nominee Donald Trump.
The conservative senator repeatedly clashed with Trump during a bitter primary fight, with the New York businessman mocking the lawmaker as "Lyin' Ted." With an eye toward 2020, Cruz's team drafted a convention speech focusing on adherence to the Constitution, a calling card for conservatives and a perceived contrast with Trump.
Cruz has not endorsed Trump despite pleas for party unity from the campaign and party officials. Nor is he expected to in his speech, which was carefully screened by Trump campaign officials, the senator's aides said.
(Excerpt) Read more at hosted.ap.org ...
I totally agree. I just think Cruz has created difficulties with his supporters if he endorses Trump. How does a politician explain to people that trust and believe him that it’s okay to endorse a “pathological liar”?
Glenn Beck has already said he’ll stop thinking Cruz is any different from the rest of DC if he endorses Trump. Beck’s not the only Cruz supporter who will struggle with such a sharp about face.
“Trump has given the prime time spot to a person who is not “good and honorable”?”
Pretty magnanimous of him, wouldn’t you say?
It’s politics, friend. Trump has extended an olive branch to Ted. We’ll see whether Ted takes it in the spirit it was offered, or whether he blows his last opportunity to redeem himself in the voters’ eyes.
I’ll give him the doubt this first time, as the GOP field was wide open. “May the best man wins” etc.
But I continue (have been continued) to judge/evaluate Cruz since he suspended his campaign.
“We don’t want to lose the Senate, and that is what could happen if Cruz send a message to his followers that he won’t support Trump.”
You credit Cruz with far more influence than he actually has. He’ll be lucky to keep his Senate seat after 2018.
Talk about not keeping focus
It is very relevant to the equation as to whether or not we get the right judges hat takes s Republican Senate
With Democrats crossing over to vote for Trump, we are going to need all Republicans voting to keep the Senate because Democrats will vote for Trump, but not for Republicans down ticket
Ted Cruz will ensure that all his supporters vote instead of staying home as 4 million Republican voters did in 2008 when they couldn’t and would t vote because of Romney
Not saying they are smart for doing it, but an endorsement by Cruz in prime time will ensure the vast majority will show up and vote and thus ensuring we keep the Senate
You can poo paw the power of Cruz to influence his followers all you want, but it’s a very important part of making sure we have down ticket voters pulling the lever for Republicans
I bet you $100 that Cruz wins his reelection in a walk
Outside of your head most people could care less what you think
All that matters is what Trump thinks right now because he gave Ted the second most prime speaking spot at the convention
Good thing Trump is smarter than you
“...the influence and likability of Cruz outside of FreeRepublic...”
Ted still has influence and likeability among his shrinking cult of loyal supporters, but that’s it. He has no national clout.
You’re right about it being outside of Free Republic. I consider that to be a good thing.
“I bet you $100 that Cruz wins his reelection in a walk”
Ted won his home state by the slimmest margin of any Republican presidential candidate in history. It’s been downhill for him ever since. He’s nearly wrecked his own brand beyond any hope of redemption.
Keep your money in your pocket. He’ll be very lucky to win re-election in 2018.
“Outside of your head most people could care less what you think”
Oooh....it’s ad hominem time. You know you just conceded the argument, right?
If Cruz has that much influence, and if he’s one one-hundredth the conservative he claims to be, he’ll work himself to the bone to defeat Hillary. So where’s the crisis?
“...smarter than you...”
Quit digging, man. That hole is only getting deeper.
There won’t be a GOP left to win a national election.
Yes, Cruz has indeed put himself in a box, but if he has to choose between endorsing Trump and disappointing his #neverTrump kook supporters like Beck, Krystol or Romney, vs. not endorsing Trump and turning off everyone else, well then.... I know what I would do!
Maybe Cruz could endorse straight out of the gate, and then utilize some form of the very good suggestions you made, to ease the shock and disappointment of his most anti-Trump supporters. Some eloquent warnings about the calamity that would be a Queen Hillary reign could make that bitter medicine more appealing.
Yep totally doing your part to heal the party.
What ever
Well then, that is great news~I had not seen that. Will take it to the bank. Thanks for sharing.
Apparently Mr. Trump has it on private authority because there has been no public indication yet by Mr. Cruz...nothing
But you know, if Cruz was planning to endorse all along, it sure would have been nice for party unity, if Cruz had discouraged the nonsense with the #NeverTrumpers especially at the actual Convention on Monday and Tuesday—and the threatened walkout tonight by Kendall Unruh’s followers.
Come up for air, friend.
It's the job of every American to sort out where they stand, and who they support in this election.
Are you, a well-informed adult, going to try and convince me that you're suffering some sort of mental distress, because the vast majority of Republican voters aren't expressing sympathy for your hurt, or pleading with you to rejoin the fold?
Listen -- I voted to send Ted to the Senate. I sent money to his presidential campaign. I vocally supported him on this forum. That support gradually came to a halt as I watched his actions over the past year (in the campaign and the Senate). I was forced to face reality about the man. I was mightily disappointed in him, but I'm the type who'd rather live with the truth, than wishful fancies.
No one offered a shoulder to cry on, nor did they send me love letters, begging me to come back. Quit expecting that from others. It's petulant, and unbecoming of an informed conservative.
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