Posted on 12/14/2015 10:42:35 PM PST by 2ndDivisionVet
Perhaps you have watched one, two, three, four or even all five. Perhaps you haven't watched a single one.
But regardless of what group you fall into, you might want to watch tonight's Republican presidential candidate debate, which will air on CNN. It will be the sixth held this year and it will give you a chance to take either an initial or second look at Texas Sen. Ted Cruz, who now seems to have the best chance to overtake front runner Donald Trump and win the party's nomination.
The GOP establishment has watched on with unease as Trump has seized the top spot in the polls and stubbornly held on to it for the past five months. While the appeal of the outspoken Trump has shown some signs of slipping as of late, the Republican brass has come to take his candidacy seriously. They realize he could be their candidate come November, and are seemingly worried it would harm their party's chances to topple the assumed Democratic candidate, Hillary Clinton.
Part of the reason behind Trump's staying power is no mainstream candidate has emerged as a serious threat. Many GOP insiders had hoped Jeb Bush would supply that threat, but he has failed to inspire the electorate and it is now obvious that a third man named Bush will not be elected president, at least not in 2016.
So, as they put preferences aside and develop more of an "anyone but Trump'' approach, Cruz, who is hardly a friend of the establishment, has to be considered or reconsidered. He has taken the lead in the polls from Trump among Republican voters in Iowa, which will kick off the primary season when the state holds its caucus on Feb. 1.
Cruz seems bound and determined to transform the Republican party. He is an unabashed conservative and tea party darling, who became the national face of the 2013 government shutdown. He openly feuds with his party mates, and has been known to describe GOP leaders as spineless and feeble.
As a result, he has developed numerous enemies in Washington, and to this point, does not have a single Senate colleague backing his campaign. He might be considered an insider merely because of his elected position, but he also could just as easily be considered an outsider looking in.
This might present a quandary for traditional Republicans, but it also presents an alternative and opportunity to those who cringe at the idea of Trump being nominated. Cruz has enough of a bad boy reputation to appeal to the disenchanted, and enough of a link to traditional government to appeal to the mainstream.
Iowans go to the polls in six weeks. New Hampshire voters one week later. The Illinois primary will be held March 15.
It's obvious the campaign is heading into a critical phase. While voters are coming closer to settling on a choice, many have not made up their minds, and many have not given much thought toward Cruz yet. If you want to make an informed choice at the ballot box, you might want to start tonight.
Cruz can’t survive long in such a situation since it’s easy to label him a kook. He associates with Dominionists (”We must conquer society in order to redistribute the wealth to the pastors!”), including his father, and has had pastors such as the false Prophetess Beth Moore and the current inane pastors of the megachurch he attends. At the center of this ugly little solar system is C. Peter Wagner.
On the other end, Cruz’s “Conservative” strengths are easily rendered into weaknesses when paired against Marco or Jeb. So far there hasn’t been a serious push to demonstrate that Cruz is lying about his immigration position, nor to bring up the skeleton of TPA out of his closet. It doesn’t look good to say that Marco Rubio is terrible because he supports amnesty, only to reveal that Cruz is weak on immigration too, but, even worse, dishonest about it.
There really is only one choice for conservatives this go around.
From CNN:
1. Palin loves Ted Cruz and Donald Trump.
She doesn’t plan to endorse any time soon. And, in a nod to her history of backing candidates who didn’t win, she joked that the presidential hopefuls wouldn’t want her backing, anyway.
“Not if they’re smart!” she said.
But Palin wasn’t shy about saying her two favorite candidates in the 2016 GOP race are Texas Sen. Ted Cruz and Donald Trump.
She offered some kudos for the “libertarian leanings” of Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul, and said she does “so respect” retired neurosurgeon Ben Carson. But she offered the kindest praise to Cruz, the GOP front-runner in Iowa, and Trump, who leads in national polls.
“I’m not going to pick one right now, but what a nice problem to have if it came down to Cruz and Trump,” Palin said. “That’s a good problem for voters to have, because we know that, as you say, they are both strong and very decisive and someone who would take the initiative. That is what we need today, and both of those candidates would fit that bill.”
Though the former Alaska governor wasn’t endorsing anyone, her daughter Willow Palin — who attended Monday night’s event — says she’s backing Trump.
You slay me. LOL
Trump is no conservative.
There is NOTHING more conservative than stopping a permanent democrat/marxist voting majority and doing whats best for the people and the country. By virtue of Mr. Trump’s position on illegal immigration he Trumps all others conservatism.
You certainly won't be very happy once the media begins the vetting process on Cruz, though, if we are unlucky, they will wait to do so only after they think the threat of Trump is over.
Levin and the rest of the "Conservative" sphere, including Salem Media and Breitbart, do not vet Ted Cruz for a reason.
Trump is a Reagan Democrat, and a True Patriot.
Cruz is a True Constitutional Conservative.
Both have their merits and downsides and either man would be A HELL of a lot better than whatever garbage the GOPe is throwing our way.
Yeah, I can hardly sleep I’m so worried. If they had all this secret information on Ted Cruz, why didn’t they use it to deny him a senate seat in a large, important state?
Ted Cruz, a Donor approved product. Remember, he’s a ( cough cough ) Conservative, whatever the hell that means anymore.
So only billionaires should run for elected office? Interesting idea.
Oh yeah? Where?
So are you saying that we are all stupid because we support Trump? Have any of the other candidates stated in no uncertain terms how they would get rid of the illegals?I don’t see any of the others putting the msm in their place like Trump does.He says what he thinks and he stands by his remarks.The rest have major donors and I think have a very controlling interest in what they say.I don’t trust that.
It's not secret information. The Dominionist ties are easily verifiable on lefty news websites and videos of Rafael Cruz as well as Cruz receiving hands on anointing from Dominionist preachers. The name of Cruz's church and the preaching of his pastors, past and present, are all available. Next, Cruz's deception on immigration has been talked about at length on FR, and can easily be verified. There is no question that Cruz did support legalization, despite him calling Rubio a liar. The MSM knows this as well and has indeed reported it, but never on a large scale.
You do not know it because "conservative" media will not tell you about it, but it's not a secret.
why didnât they use it to deny him a senate seat in a large, important state?
Rafael's Dominionist sermon about the "kings" and the "priests," and the end times transfer of wealth by the conquering kings to the priests (pastors), as well as the hands on anointing, all happened this year as part of Ted Cruz's Presidential campaign. Cruz's church and pastors will also probably receive the same inspection that Carson got as well.
The more I see of Cruz, the less I like him. And the media is just waiting, hoping Cruz gets the nomination then the general will all be about how he is ‘ineligible’ - true or not doesn’t matter they will make it the only point in the general election and enough people will not support him because of the media portrayal.
Trump can hold his own against the Dems and media. Cruz cannot.
Trump has several things going for him.
He has enough money to compete against the DNC machine, and to not be bought.
He is a creative and successful businessman who can inspire company and brand loyalty. So far no employees have spoken against him.
He has 40 years in the public eye and has been vetted.
He is a reality TV star - and lets face it politics has become a reality TV show with âyou are the weakest link...goodbyeâ or who gets âvoted off the islandâ. He knows what it takes to keep people entertained.
He says what he thinks and enjoys pissing people off (I trait I admire actually). He doesnât mind being the heavy or people hating him. They have for years while he laughs his way to the bank.
He is happy warrior. I donât think he was serious in the beginning and maybe threw his hat in to be a voice, but you can tell he is really enjoying this now. He likes the chase and the spotlight and the fact people like what he is saying (including many who left the GOP after Romney for Constitution Party or became Independent).
Along these lines, he has made and lost and made billions again, it gets boring (here is where he reminds me of my great grandfather and great uncle). He has written books, he has had TV shows, he has raised more than one family. This is a challenge for him and people like him like the challenge above it all.
This country needs a businessman right now who isnât afraid to tell it like it is and that resonates with people, esp the middle class blue collar.
Is he ethical? Not really (advantage of corporate bankruptcy laws - perfectly legal but questionable ethicaly) but look at our opponents. They havenât been ethical for decades. The GOP being the âparty of principle and ethicsâ isnât reality either. It has gotten us nowhere. We elect supposed conservatives who turn on us as soon as they get into office (look at the midterms) and then say ânext timeâ well we have over 20 years of ânext timeâ and the GOP caving to the dems and being run by RINOS who put forth losers like Romney, Dole, etc and moderates like Bush. The fact the GOP establishment HATES Trump is a good reason to support him.
He makes no bones about giving money in the past to both sides and admits he was an independent (contrary to Carson who dodged questions about being Democrat until recently). Trump is more transparent than most.
Many backed away from things like halting Muslim immigration and berated Trump for being ‘racist’. However what it showed is he has a creative legal research team (you have to in corporate business) and he knows how to use them. His plans are legal and with precedence, not based on PC feelings like the other candidates.
He is squishy on some social issues - I know it and it does bother me, but I still am supporting him because if we donât deal with some big issues like terrorism, and illegals we wonât have a country to worry about social issues
For all these reasons love him or hate him - Trump is the most logical candidate.
Oh, so tax cuts, getting rid of COMMIE CORE and OBAMACARE, strengthening our military,cleaning up the VA and taking cared of our vets, cutting the waste and fraud in the government aren’/t “conservative”? Well blow me down, matey.
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