Posted on 07/21/2016 9:46:02 AM PDT by Loud Mime
No, Senator Cruz did not have to endorse Donald Trump. If he had I would have considered it as phony as a Hillary campaign ad. We already know that the Cruz faction considers Donald Trump to be a character something this side of the father of Rosemary’s Baby; so, an endorsement by Ted, even a phony one, would have no effect on the election.
Senator Cruz is a constitutionist. I am a constitutionist. I study our Constitution, the Federalist Papers, the anti-federalists and read associated writings from Algernon Sidney to Forrest McDonald. When I met Ted Cruz (after his appearance on the Jay Leno Show), we talked for some time about the Constitution and our politician’s reluctance to address it properly. I gave him one of my books, which sets the Constitution at the political center instead of the right wing, and his staff asked for another.
But, at the Republican Convention he didn’t even mention the Constitution until half way through his speech! I was waiting. Instead, he was grabbing at heart strings. He mentioned the Constitution only three times in total before he waved off and left the stage.
“That’s it?” I wondered.
Here’s why Senator Cruz blew it: He didn’t have to endorse Donald Trump, but he could have challenged him, even while being snarky about it. Here’s my suggestion, Imagine Ted saying this:
“Donald Trump is now the Republican Party nominee. I, along with many others, didn’t want him here, but that’s done. The party has spoken. But, like any business deal, we need to lay out our cards and stop bluffing. Mr. Trump is a businessman, so let’s get to business.”
The first thing I wish for Candidate Trump to state is how he respects our Constitution. Does he seriously consider it to be the foundation of our government and all law, something to be taken seriously; or does he view it like the liberals’ version, as living and breathing?
It’s a good question, and an important one.
Now, in Article II, the Constitution lists several duties for the president. He will commission all officers in our military, and appoint ambassadors and judges, of course with the “Advice and Consent of the Senate.” It is here that we must ask Candidate Trump if he will only nominate judges who understand and respect our Constitution?
Another duty of the president is found in Section 3. This is one of the most important duties of the president. “He shall take care that the laws be faithfully executed.” This order from the Constitution defines the office of the President. He is the chief law enforcement officer in the United States, he is NOT the leader of the American people. He is to enforce the laws, not change them.
So, Mr. Trump, will you take care that the laws be faithfully executed? Or, will you claim current law needs to be reformed and NOT enforce them?
We have seen what happens when citizens do not respect the law. They kill police officers. They riot and murder. When our politicians do not respect the Constitution, they open the gates to corruption and political manipulation instead of justice and freedom. Respect for the law is very, very important. The Constitution has this order for all presidents:
Before he enter on the Execution of his Office, he shall take the following Oath or Affirmation:—"I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will faithfully execute the Office of President of the United States, and will to the best of my ability, preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States."
Obviously, this oath has not been taken seriously over the last few years. So, Mr. Trump, will you take this oath to heart, seriously, not only on the Bible, but on the graves of all your forefathers? Yes? No?
One last question. There is only one guarantee in our Constitution. One. It’s found in Article IV, Section 4. Think of it as two 4’s. 44. We now have the 44th president, who ignores this guarantee, which states in part:
“The United States shall guarantee to every state in this union a republican form of government, and shall protect each of them against invasion”
You talk about building a wall. Lots of politicians have done that, but, still no wall.
Will honor the Constitution and stop this invasion?
End Speech
Now, even if you don’t like Cruz or Trump, don’t you think this would have been a good thing for our nation? Screw the differences, let’s focus on the nation! But that is not happening. Senator Cruz doubled down on the differences when he used the phrase “vote your conscience.” That’s when the audience turned ugly, because they knew what he meant.
That phrase, “vote your conscience,” is horrible. It means so many things to so many people; heck, Hillary, Black Lives Matter, the Communist Party and any religion can use it as well. But when Senator Cruz uses it, it means: vote for me.
Tonight’s speech provided Senator Cruz with a wonderful opportunity to seek common ground on constitutional principles. It was wasted. Instead, the division was increased, followed by immediate fundraising emails by the Cruz campaign (I’m not kidding).
The Senator’s followers were spirited by his speech. One of the Cruz supporters foresees a Hillary win because Senator Cruz is not the candidate. He wrote that he will cherish the moment Hillary wins because he can get right in my face to tell me how wrong I was. I have no doubt that this egomaniac will vote for Hillary to feed his pride - - and I do wonder how he knows that Ted Cruz can beat Hillary in the first place.
What we are now seeing is a failure of patriotism caused by party division. At a point, true patriots do what best for their nation. You have a choice between two main candidates, take one! Sadly, the non-patriot will vote for a candidate who has no chance, because that exercise makes them feel better about themselves.
In my opinion, former Navy Seal Marcus Luttrell gave the best speech of the convention. It was from the heart; he loves his country and its people. He’s served in the military and understands what patriotism is, what it takes to keep this nation working. I suggest that everybody listen to that speech again and ask yourself if the division, the anger, and the conceit that comes from this convention is good for our nation.
It’s not. Follow Marcus Luttrell’s lead.
It’s easy now. Constitution scholar or not. Vote Trump or Hillary. kiss principle
I disagree with this author. If he loves the Constitution so much, then he should tell Ted to give full support to Trump, because the alternative is a woman who would turn that document, and everything it stands for, into toilet paper.
It’s not a matter of whether Trump is “pure” enough - it’s a matter of whether the country, America, and the Constitution will EXIST anymore. Hillary is THE END.
Wake the HELL up!
Well there little Stevie, you are a constitutionalist in the same way and to the exact same degree as Micheal Moore is a constitutionalist.
Ted’s mother gave up her United States citizenship for Canadian citizenship when she was pregnant with Ted. That bought her subsidized medical care.
Neither of Cruz’s parents were US Citizens at the time Ted was born in Canada.
The man isn’t eligible for the presidency.
Bringing the Constitution to the forefront and getting commitments from Trump is a good thing, far better than just backing the candidate. Moreover, it would tame some of the people who have no idea where Trump stands on constitutional applications.
Sorry, 100% wrong attitude and direction. I, too, am a Constitutional Conservative.
What Ted should have said: “I know that Hillary does not and will not support or uphold our Constitution, and I could never vote for her. Although Trump and I have had our differences, he has stated that he will surround himself with the best people to Make America Great Again -— so I am offering right now to help him on any Constitutional question or any matter where government has been or may be at odds with the Constitution. America can count on me to be right there, every day, helping not only to Make America Great Again, but also to Make America Constitutional Again.”
You missed the entire point of the article. As far as the Michael Moore comparison, look at the source.
Cruz’s speech was a blatherfest about nothing. It was just self serving horse hockey. Halfway through Mr. GG2 said “what is he even talking about?”. I was just watching to see him get booed off the stage and Cruz did not let me down. What a loser!
That fact is, in itself, an indictment of America in general and the Republican Party in particular. If we actually had the government that the Framers gave us, no President, no Congress, no Court could possibly be "THE END". They simply wouldn't have the power to be "THE END". We didn't get here over night. We didn't even get here in the past 7.5 years. This bloated, unconstitutional, excessively powerful government is the result of decades of anti-constitutional action by judges, congressmen, senators, and presidents from both parties. We the People listened to their blather, believed their lies, and elected them. Those few of us who resisted were routinely reviled, derided, and shouted down. If the political class wants to see who created the "monster" Trump, they can look in the mirror.
A citizen, any citizen, but especially one who has campaigned under the banner of love for county and devotion to its Constitution's limits on government and protections for freedom for its "only KEEPERS," We, the People (Justice Story's Commentaries . . . .)--any citizen who, by their words and actions makes it easier for an unethical pair of power-hungry politicians to claim the White House--is not worthy of future consideration for President.
You seem to be contradicting yourself. Both you and the author focus on the Constitution, instead of ignoring it - as Senator Cruz did for the most part.
Excellent quote!!
By not endorsing Donald Trump Ted Cruz just shot himself in the foot. If Trump loses and they blame it on Cruz people will remember. if Cruz has any further political ambitions it’s all over for him. He will have to go back home to Canada.
Let’s see if his wife gets a promotion at Goldman Sachs. Or if he starts getting big speaking fees. He may have blown it for us but done exactly what the Clintons want. And that leads to big payoffs.
Since I trust him as much as I trust Hillary today there’s no telling what his motivations were. The only thing certain is that the good of the party or country did not influence him.
Great comments.
The continual slide away from constitutional intent has created more agencies, more influence peddling, more corruption and more litigation. I believe the foundation was set by the 17th Amendment, with other factors setting in years later. I do wonder what life would be like if the Attorneys were not allowed to advertise - I think in the 1950’s they couldn’t do that, or were restricted.
The further we move from the Constitution, the more corrupt politicians we’ll find.
A man who claims to be a constitutionalist while opposing constitutional stipulations regarding who is eligible for the office of presidency has no points to make.
The author disqualified himself at the top of the web page.
What constitutional stipulations?
There is only one solution to the media ... guillotines from orbit, it's the only way. I have learned to hate the talking heads who serve such evil agenda. I learned it way back when they made all manner of excuses for the degenerate Clintons. They have gotten worse over the years ... I know where I'm goin' huntin' after the shyte hits the fan and the nation collapses from their works.
Reprinted below are excerpts from the Valedictory from the nationalcenter.org web site.
Andrew Jackson's Farewell Address
by Andrew Jackson
1837
"This speech was given on the occasion of Andrew Jackson's retirement from the presidency, and from public life. Jackson spent the remainder of his life at his home, known as the Hermitage, near Nashville, Tennessee. He died in 1845."Excerpts:
"But the Constitution can not be maintained, nor the Union preserved, in opposition to public feeling, by the mere exertion of the coercive powers confided to the general government. The foundations must be laid in the affections of the people; in the security it gives to life, liberty, character, and property, in every quarter of the country; and in the fraternal attachments which the citizens of the several States bear to one another, as members of one political family mutually contributing to promote the happiness of each other. Hence the citizens of every State should studiously avoid everything calculated to wound the sensibility or offend the just pride of the people of other States; and they should frown upon any proceedings within their own borders likely to disturb the tranquillity of their political brethren in other portions of the Union.
"You have no longer any cause to fear danger from abroad; your strength and power are well known throughout the civilized world, as well as the high and gallant bearing of your sons. It is from within, among yourselves, from cupidity, from corruption, from disappointed ambition, and inordinate thirst for power, that factions will be formed and liberty endangered. It is against such designs, whatever disguise the actors may assume, that you have especially to guard yourselves. You have the highest of human trusts committed to your care. Providence has showered on this favored land blessings without number, and has chosen you, as the guardians of freedom, to preserve it for the benefit of the human race. May he who holds in his hands the destinies of nations make you worthy of the favors he has bestowed, and enable you, with pure hearts, and pure hands, and sleepless vigilance, to guard and defend to the end of time the great charge he has committed to your keeping.
"My own race is nearly run; advanced age and failing health warn me that before long I must pass beyond the reach of human events and cease to feel the vicissitudes of human affairs. I thank God that my life has been spent in a land of liberty, and that he has given me a heart to love my country with the affection of a son. And filled with gratitude for your constant and unwavering kindness, I bid you a last and affectionate farewell."
- Andrew Jackson's Farewell Address
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.