Posted on 01/24/2015 3:51:41 PM PST by 2ndDivisionVet
The Texas conservative and his team are trying to lock down a state director for his White House run.
DES MOINES -- Ted Cruz's presidential campaign in Iowa is unofficially underway.
The Texas senator and his lieutenants have been making calls to top Iowa activists and consultants for the past two weeks, multiple Republican sources told National Journal, hoping to lock down a state director for his White House campaign.
Cruz has not yet made that critical hire, the sources said.
But he's making other moves in this first nominating state.
At the end of a fiery speech here Saturday to the Iowa Freedom Summit, Cruz instructed his cheering audience to send a text message with the word "Constitution" to the number 33733. Iowans all over the auditorium could be seen whipping out their cell phones and punching keys. Within moments, anyone who sent the text got this reply: "Together let's bring bold, clear leadership to America." The message included a link: " tedcruz.org."
It was an innovative way to collect contact information from masses of committed Iowa conservatives. It also erased any remaining doubts about Cruz's intention to run for president -- even if he downplayed the move, with a smile, when asked about it after his speech.
"What we're doing is, we're working to build a grassroots army in Iowa and all across the country," Cruz said. "Because the only way we're going to turn this country around -- it's not going to come from Washington. It's got to come from the American people. "
Judging from his performance Saturday, Cruz won't have trouble recruiting Iowans for his "army."
The Texas senator received a rock-star reception from the conservative crowd, which began cheering upon the first mention of his name. He delivered a speech full of conservative objectives – "repeal Obamacare" and "abolish the IRS," for instance – that was interrupted repeatedly by applause.
He suggested taking the 110,000 current employees of the IRS and sending them instead to guard the southern border. "Somewhat jokingly," he said of the plan. (The side benefit, he laughed, would the agents would scare away would-be illegal immigrants.)
Most notably, Cruz positioned himself to the right of all his potential rivals in the 2016 field. He warned the audience that all of the Republican contenders would fashion themselves as true conservatives when they are not.
"Talk is cheap," he said of his fellow Republicans. He then drew from the Bible – as he did elsewhere in the speech – saying, "The Word tells us, 'You will know them by their fruit.'" Many in the audience knowingly murmured the words along with him.
"Show me where you stood up and fought," Cruz challenged potential rivals on issue after issue, from Obamacare to gay marriage to the Common Core education standards.
The theme of Cruz's speech was "The Miracle of America" -- a message the senator was road-testing as a potential 2016 campaign slogan.
The message, as delivered here, touched on everything from promoting upward mobility to defending religious liberties to advocating a muscular U.S. foreign policy. Cruz told the crowd that "each of us have seen miracles every day," and shared with the evangelical audience how his father left him and his mother many years ago, only to become a Christian and come back to the family.
Cruz promised the crowd that even though times are tough in America, a "miracle" could be on the horizon. He said the country's current challenges are surmountable when considering the historic triumphs over Britain in the Revolutionary War and the Nazis in World War II.
"We have done it before," Cruz exclaimed. "We can do it again!"
“Cruz is in a very comfortable position politically, so it’s easy to take very public stands. He’s interested in forwarding his career and, when compared to other freshmen Senators, is a household name already.”
Going against the party establishment is hardly a comfortable position. Being vilified by your own party leadership but staying firm in your convictions and having to fight not only the democrats but your own party is hardly a sift comfy place to be. And it hardly advances your career if you lose the fight - ask Tancredo or Hunter.
Not that Walker hasn’t faced similar obstacles and also cone out on too. They both deserve credit.
“If Walker leaves WI, all the good work he’s done will be undone over a holiday weekend if he leaves the Governor’s Mansion.”
Demonstrably false and utterly ignorant of what’s going on in Wisconsin. The Governor let the state GOP apparatus run his campaign. That’s unprecedented, but what it did was strengthen the GOP throughout the state and create a very close relationship between the two.
Do you know about lt. Gov. Rebecca Kleefisch? I like her even better than Walker.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rebecca_Kleefisch
As for being able to rollback Obama’s mess, it won’t be easy for either Walker or Cruz. Take Democratcare for instance. Every Dem still wants it, plus the insurance companies and Big Business want some kind of ‘help’ with their competition and costs respectively.
Ideally, I’d like to see a lawsuit bring the whole thing crashing down and leave just a free market in health care.
Conservatives have to realize that there’s one Savior, Jesus Christ, and until he comes it will be a long, slog against the devil’s world.
I agree that they both deserve a lot of credit. What I mean is that Cruz is locked in to a six year gig and is from a very comfortably Republican state. Incumbency alone gives him a better than 90% chance of reelection for the rest of his life.
Walker isn’t in that position. That difference in experience is all the difference in the world. Walker won 3 times in four years in mushy Wisconsin.
Obama, even more than Cruz, came from a place that was so solidly Democrat that just winning the Democrat primary finishes the race. Obama never had to deal with the opposition. Right now Dems hold veto-proof majorities in the IL legislature. That type of dominance harmed Obama’s ability to deal with the opposition. His bluster is masking his blunder.
Again, I’m proud of Cruz and wish we had a couple dozen more like him. I wish he was my Senator. If he wins the nomination, I’ll fully and happily support his victory.
I listened to Scott Walker’s speech in Iowa, he is not the firebrand Cruz is. A firebrand is what we need in these perilous times.
Walker is a very intelligent and brave conservative, but so is Cruz. Walker is a good second choice. First choice for me: Cruz control.
Reagan compromised by getting most if what he wanted, not by giving most of what the opponent wanted.
Ask Gorbachev.
You know, I really do appreciate your long-view. Agree with it entirely.
But this short-view thing, like the time interval when a pin is pulled off the grenade, when implacable damage is inflicted, we’re in that timeframe now.
Time is of the essence, and time ain’t on our side right now.
Emergency, I think we used to call it. Gotta fight with the Army we have, not the Army you wish we had.
That’s my way as well.
The Governor let the state GOP apparatus run his campaign. That’s unprecedented, but what it did was strengthen the GOP throughout the state and create a very close relationship between the two.
BLUE.
“Incumbency alone gives him a better than 90% chance of reelection for the rest of his life.
...That difference in experience is all the difference in the world. Walker won 3 times in four years in mushy Wisconsin.”
Good points. But i do think that Cruz’s being willing to give up his seat that he could jeep for life shows he’s looking at what’s best for the country.
I always thought we do best by running a governor that has stayed under the MSM radar. But Cruz has me hopeful in a way I haven’t been in years. I’ll listen to Walker and give hum a fair chance as well. Sadly, if both are truly conservative, the Republican establishment will vilify them worse that the democrats will. And they won’t stand a chance.
I hope i am wrong.
Gotta fight with the Army we have, not the Army you wish we had.
Totally agree, but I just think Walker and another governor will do a better job at that. The next big fight is going to be at the state level.
Keep in mind that Kleefish, Walkers #2, is in line to lead the Republican Lt. Governor’s Association. If she moves up to Wis. Gov, she’ll be well positioned to lead the charge at the states level against the FedGov.
With her there and Walker in the WH you can actually undo more damage. Keep in mind that the Fourth Branch is the states themselves. They have formal and clear powers via the Constitution. We need that.
There’s a lot to like about a Walker Presidency.
That’s true. Take a look at Presidential elections. Obama took Wisconsin both times. But, when Obama campaigned against Walker there, Walker won.
Of all the potential candidates for POTUS, only Walker has beaten Obama. That’s something, too.
Nope, you’re right. Jeb and Romney and their ilk will team up. That’s why we can’t let Romney do what he did last time and pick our conservative off one by one over time.
We need to pick one and win.
Personally Lurkus, I would like to see a Cruz/West ticket. But that is just me.
Walker’s too nice a guy to do what needs to be done now.
Cruz has all our enemies in his sights. That’s why the Left trashes Cruz and leaves Walker alone. They know who their henchman is, and that he’s coming for them.
We’re in an un-civil time, and require un-civil measures, sadly. An emergency.
Walker’s plenty tough and has plenty of achievements overcoming the Dems.
http://www.nationaljournal.com/politics/scott-walker-scores-standing-ovation-in-iowa-20150124
“If you’re not afraid to go big and go bold you can actually get results,” Walker said. “You can clap for that, that’s alright.”
Walker ticked off a Republican agenda that he hadn’t just proposed but had been enacted in Wisconsin, from defunding Planned Parenthood to concealed carry, from a voter ID law to rejecting the expansion of Medicaid under Obamacare.
“Record is a monstrously powerful asset,” GOP strategist Rick Wilson wrote on Twitter. “I told a different campaign the other day: everyone who underestimates Walker’s toughness learns not to.”
“In America, we value our independence from the government and not our dependence on it,” he said. “We need leaders who will stand with our allies against radical Islamic terrorists,” he said to some of the day’s biggest applause.
Every night when a liberal goes to sleep, they check under their beds for Ted Cruz. If you want to know which candidate to back, choose the one that is most scorned and feared by the libs...Ted is our boogeyman!
...”campaign​ in Iowa is “un-officially” underway.”..... I’ll wait til it is OFFICIALLY called by Cruz...but it sure is looking grand that he is!!! It needs to be an “announcement”...I want to savor it all...and so should he!!!
...”Most notably, Cruz positioned himself to the right of all his potential rivals in the 2016 field”.....
A ‘true’ conservative..and leader!...and he has “Shown It”!!!
‘By their fruits you shall know them!’
As much as I love Ted Cruz, I too feel that Scot Walker would be more electable, and probably a better president. He has, as you say, defeated the Democratic Machine over and over. Destroying the liberal agenda is what has to happen for America to survive. If we survive, then we might get a chance to elect other presidents who address our “pet peeves”.
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