Posted on 12/30/2015 9:28:12 PM PST by 2ndDivisionVet
Do supporters of the Christian right candidates Ted Cruz has eclipsed hate him so much they'd sabotage their own heroes?
The late stages of the invisible primary would not be complete without reports of intrigue and skullduggery in Iowa, with campaigns forming tactical alliances against common enemies. We have one today from National Review's Tim Alberta and Eliana Johnson, who report that supporters of the last two caucus winners, Mike Huckabee and Rick Santorum, are so bitter at being eclipsed by Ted Cruz that they are conspiring to block the Texan and instead elevate Marco Rubio. There's only one problem with that scenario: Under Republican caucus procedures, there's no way the disgruntled social conservatives can achieve their alleged goal without damaging their own candidates, who will probably drop out if they don't do surprisingly well in Iowa.
The reason Democrats are usually featured in these Iowa intrigue stories is that their caucus procedures encourage tactical alliances via minimum thresholds for "viability" (i.e., the opportunity to elect state convention delegates, which is the only measurement of success), meaning that support can be loaned to favored candidates and denied to disfavored candidates on a precinct-by-precinct basis. Republicans, by contrast, have a simple candidate preference vote at their caucuses, so there's no way for would-be tacticians to loan or borrow support without hurting their own candidate's statewide tally...
(Excerpt) Read more at nymag.com ...
I did not say it was the only explanation. I said I suspect it.
I said Trump supporters. Like FR’s own hell....something or other. That Trump supporter does it all the time. I was just saying I suspect the culprit is the one who will benefit, at least his supporters. It has been known to happen. Makes more sense than anything else.
95% of historians and political scientists would disagree with you.
95% of historians and political scientists would disagree with you.
You believe that, huh?
I soo agree! Something is up. The Don is ready to cause some head aches. He isn’t spending 2 million a *week* on some kind of ads, for no return. tee hee.
I wondered if that money is only partly for ads and mostly going toward his ground gamers?
HOT POST!!! THANK YOU!
Thanks Red! You and I are not much into ghost stories, and we already sold the turnip truck quite a long time ago. .)
Yes. What’s that saying, if the simplest answer fits, stick with it. Something like that. To believe he is nothing more than a plot against Cruz is too far fetched a senerio, requiring too much advanced planning for unknown outcomes, especially considering the subjects involved. I might buy that as a leftist politically staged drama with other candidates. They lie and fake things all the time. Huckabee’s campaign is nothing but Huckabee wanting the job. You can play around with his reasons for wanting the job, but he wants it for himself.
I think what they are working toward is locking down delegates.
Every candidate who is behind Trump is a long shot at overtaking him, and the candidates in the second tier have seen Trump for half a year as the front runner who has withstood all the attacks by the media and candidates.
Candidates who are behind the second guy would like to take his place even if the front runner is strengthened, but they also see that their positions may become stronger in the field as the second guy falls, and if one is so lucky he becomes number 2 behind the front runner putting himself in position to overtake if the front runner some how falters. It’s a long shot and thin gruel against Trump, but at this point they will take it.
I'm sorry, I just don't see the logic in it.
Trump (or his supporters) are involved in some grand backroom scheme to deploy Huckabee and Santorum to peel off Cruz support and artificially inflate Marco Rubio's results?
Assuming this story is true, I still think the most likely explanation is that Huck and Santorum want the book deals and speaking engagements that come with being the darling of the evangelical movement.
I buy it. Everyone pines away for a pious candidate. And every cycle that element conspires to help the GOPe. It gave us Bush and Romney.
I want someone about like Trump religiously. basic Christian, who doesn’t hate us like Obama and his weird church.
I agree with you. Huck wanted to run with flared ego in the lead.
But, behind that also, is the unspoken nod that is given to players is that splitter strategy. I think it is not organized and out loud. The Establishment “encourages” it, and candidates catch on fast, that there may be rewards later, for messing with the conservatives lane.
Huck is not a dummy. He goes after Cruz, but makes eyes at TRUMP. I think TRUMP is not impressed. I’m not.
Spot on. And then,... there’s the money. It’s like water with guys like Jeb. MILLIONS! They’re set among the elite forever.
And then there’s our bad boy, TRUMP! Authentic son of a gun, and you get what you see, lumps and whiskey to boot.
” 95% of historians and political scientists would disagree with you. “ >>>>
*************
Well they haven’t met me yet. Send ‘em over and I’ll ‘splain it to them. :)
I remember them talking about their ground game strategy back in early Oct. They have Santorums Iowa guru from four years ago.
By the way, Rita, if you look closely at my post, you will see this:
“Stupid stuff, really. And, I honestly doubt that Trump forces have a thing to do with it.”
Sorry, but clearly I am NOT seeing Donald Trump behind every blade of grass. And Cruz is not running out of gas, as much as you might like to imagine it.
Go Cruz! Go Trump! May the best man win!
I know, right? Huck is running for the VP spot he'll never see. He's been making goo-goo googly eyes at Donald for quite a while now. He wastes no opportunity to drop a few good words about his wanna-be bromancer every time there's a microphone nearby. I'm like you... NOT impressed.
No one should be surprised by e GOPe helping their own
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