Posted on 01/08/2016 12:27:17 AM PST by 2ndDivisionVet
Senator Ted Cruz is the most interesting candidate in the US presidential race right now. As a darling of the Tea Party, in 2012, he swept into the Senate, representing Texas, having campaigned on deeply conservative principles and policies. At the time, many dismissed him as a rabble-rouser who would wind up as a less successful version of George W Bush. Now, not only is he leading in the polls in Iowa, but he has also beat out senator Marco Rubio as the dark horse of the race thus far.
Cruz has been criticised for having some of the most conservative views in the contest. Though his conservatism is rooted in a strict interpretation of the US constitution - not the modern populism that has propelled candidates like former senator Rick Santorum and former governor Mike Huckabee to call for heavy defence spending and further government interference - his extreme views on abortion and the death penalty have many questioning if he can appeal to moderate Republicans, let alone independents.
Despite these views, however, Cruz has found support in some of the most unlikely places. Alan Dershowitz, the famous liberal law professor at Harvard, said of Cruz: "One of the sharpest students I had... I've had 10,000 students over my 50 years at Harvard... he has to qualify among the brightest."
During his career, Cruz has worked as both a law clerk to Supreme Court justice William Rehnquist, as well as the solicitor general of Texas; a job which led him to argue several cases in front of the Supreme Court himself. His experience easily pegs him as the most knowledgeable candidate on state and individual rights, a helpful title to hold when vying for conservative votes.
With a few obvious exceptions - including his anti-immigration stance and support for building a wall at the Mexican border - many of Cruz's policy proposals adopt progressive conservatism, meaning they rest more on evidence than ideology. He strays from the pack when the facts are clear, evidenced just this week when, according to the Wall Street Journal, he became "the first leading presidential candidate to oppose the federal Renewable Fuel Standard" - a farming handout that is protected heavily by the agricultural lobby.
When the TV debates kicked off, many thought Rubio was the one to watch: moderate, charismatic, with both "grassroots" and "establishment" likability. But Cruz has come out far ahead in Iowa and, if the polls are to be believed, he will be determined the winner in that state's caucus in just a matter of weeks.
My bet is that Rubio still has a small edge on Cruz to secure the Republican nomination. While the Iowa caucuses play a pivotal role for under-performing candidates, for whom it is the last chance to stay in the race, its voters are very socially conservative and have failed to choose the candidate that resonates most with the rest of the party in recent years.
But this is still anyone's race, and Cruz's prospects are looking up. If he wins Iowa, the feat will deliver a crushing blow to Donald Trump and potentially trigger the billionaire's downfall. Trump's main pull is that he's a "winner" - when he's not winning anymore, his campaign will inevitably decline.
When it does, someone will reap the lost votes. Six months ago, Cruz seemed like an after-thought; today, he may be peaking at just the right moment.
Cruz ad features Obama in combat gear: He wants your guns
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/3381058/posts
I’m curious how effective this ad will be. If Cruz can help weaken Hillary, then the ‘winnabilty’ issue is moot.
See post 14 for why I think Trump is a fool to pander to liberals.
Apparently its extreme to think of the unborn as human and not one other Trump supporter says a word.
First off, I’m still leaning toward Trump:
The Trump Revolution [by Arthur March — vanity]
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/3381137/posts
... but a kook like me is similar to women — entitled to change his mind.
That out of the way, I think that Cruz-and-abortion need not be much of an issue.
IF Hillary’s stinking political corpse actually gets dragged accross the primary finish line [thanks to Trump she’s already dead-woman-walking politically], Cruz-and-abortion would most likely be irrelevant.
Point 1: 85% of Americans are opposed to frivolous abortions and the latest outrages about infant body parts has not endeared anyone to abortions. So the ‘hardcore support’ of abortion rights is a mirage, especially now after decades of ultrasound. It is not a defining issue the way it might [if ever] have been. But it WOULD energize the conservative base like you can’t imagine.
Unless Cruz really messes up in the campaign [such as listening to standard ‘G’ OP consultants — I do worry about that], the election would be about Hillary’s Corruption, War on Terror, and the Economy [which could skyrocket all over again in importance].
AND ... I’ve noticed that judges opposed to Roe v Wade are 95% originalist [maybe more]. Just the way it pans out. Cruz would appoint some excellent federal judges who would end Kelo, strengthen gun rights, etc.
I responded in Post 23. My main concern about Cruz is:
will he listen too much to standard ‘G’ OP consultants?
That matters more to me. Hillary’s political carcass is vulnerable to wolves, but maybe not to standard consultants.
Apparently not quite as much as the amount of funny mushrooms you keep consuming.
Cruz has absolutely zero chance in the genera
The last 3 polls at RCP say the EXACT OPPOSITE of what you are saying. You Trumpbots are just too stupid to even interpret polls correctly. No surprise there. Currently Ted Cruz has the best chance to beat Hilary Clinton. Meanwhile Donald "The loudmouth" Trump is doing worse against Hilary Clinton than anyone else.
Well said.
Welcome to FR.
IBTZ.
“wind up as a less successful version of George W Bush”
I don’t think that is even possible. The march to socialism
may have slowed slightly during his 8 years but by no means
did it stop. And as far as success, yea Bush was successful
in allowing media lies to prosper and pave the way for an Obama. There is very little comparison in Ted Cruz and your
typical spineless liberal republican.
Welcome to Free Republic.
First, I think not supporting Cruz on the basis he does not want to kill babies is insane.
Secondly, he said Congress can simply outlaw abortion, not the president. Do you think electing Ted Cruz president is going to suddenly change congress?
Chuckle!
It's a little bit too early to get drunk. Oh wait, must be them funny mushrooms.
Perhaps you will explain how Mr Funny Hair proposes to win a all these states when he is trailing Hilary by a massive 7 and 11% in 2 of the last 4 head to head polls against Hilary Clinton.
Then I’ll tell you he could win in NY, NJ, CT and MA if things roll right.
Keep telling yourself that.
Lots of fantasies about Trump turning states red but he’s running a Romneylike strategy of campaigning in moderate to liberal urban centers while ignoring true flyover country. In 2011 Rush Limbaugh warned then that it would cost Romney the general election. Trump has doubled down on that strategy and even called Iowans stupid.
Anyone who believes Trump will take those urban centers away from Democrats in a general election is being incredibly dishonest with themselves.
There will be no long term if we don't get it right this time. Choose wisely.
You should know that I have absolutely no respect for liberal urban scum like yourself.
There is really no point in talking to me because you rank somewhere beneath what I wipe off my boot after a trip across the pasture.
I can fully tolerate a government that has legalized birth control and abortion up to viability or to save the life of the mother. I believe, any abortion after viability is "infanticide" because I think that even from a secular viewpoint - a fetus that can reasonably be expected to survive outside the womb has achieved “personhood†and should be protected by law.
Would you say anyone on life support, that currently has no viability without that external support, has the same legal protections as those who do not need life support?
Go Cruz
Go Trump
Make AMERICA Great for Great Americans!
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