Posted on 07/14/2015 4:43:50 PM PDT by SoConPubbie
Sen. Ted Cruz (Tex.) and real-estate mogul Donald Trump -- each running for the Republican presidential nomination as anti-establishment outsiders -- are cultivating an already chummy relationship at this early stage of the 2016 race and will huddle Wednesday in New York.
The meeting was confirmed by Republicans familiar with both campaigns who requested anonymity to discuss private conversations. Aides to Cruz declined to comment, as did Trump representatives.
The meeting will take place at Trump Tower, the gleaming Manhattan skyscraper where Trump has for decades managed his business endeavors, according to knowledgeable Republicans. The building now serves as the headquarters for Trumps national political operation.
The conclave is the latest sign of budding solidarity between the contenders, who have been friendly for several years and who have put forceful critiques of illegal immigration and their partys establishment at the center of their bids.
In recent weeks, Cruz has defended remarks Trump made on immigrants over the past month that have drawn rebukes from leading Democrats and Republicans. Trump said in his announcement speech that when "Mexico sends its people," it sends people who are "bringing drugs. Theyre bringing crime. Theyre rapists."
While other Republicans called Trumps words "offensive and inaccurate" (Sen. Marco Rubio of Florida) or "extraordinarily ugly" (former Florida governor Jeb Bush), Cruz praised Trump as someone who is "terrific" and "speaks the truth."
Asked about Cruz in an interview over the weekend, Trump told The Washington Post, "I really respect him for saying what he did."
Earlier this month on CNN, Trump said, "I shouldn't say this because, I assume, he's an opponent, but the fact is he was very brave in coming out."
Cruz has previously met with the mogul at Trump Tower, mostly during fundraising swings through New York.
Republicans close to Cruz said the first-term senator is intent on staying cozy with Trump
(Excerpt) Read more at washingtonpost.com ...
"don't you just love the maturity of the kool aid crowd, when confronted with the truth?"
Now, see...this is another example of a person abandoning conservative principles (logic and good sense) to fawn over Trump.
We rightfully admire and support those who achieve success through hard work; they should be held up as examples. But are we now implying that a person's POV is worthless unless he is super-rich?
Sorry...that's childish and silly.
Would love to know what they talk about. I’ll bet their candid, off the record remarks are really something, especially since Trump doesn’t hold much back publicly.
Very intriguing.
I bite my tongue hard sometimes....er, fingers....
Sorry, nice try. There is no fawning or worshiping over Trump, but being successful and running a business his size is a valid point. Do you run a multi-billion dollar business and are you a target or ever been of the establishmedia? If so, trash away.
Trashing Trump rather than pointing out why we should vote for your candidate is childish, saying we worship him is infantile.
Why do you suppose the entire country is talking about closing the border? The only reason is Trump and he is paying the price, but that is not good enough for the FR purists.
Well said.
Yeah, there’s plenty of fawning and worshiping. That’s my point.
You’re doing exactly what liberals do when their hero Obama is criticized. You can’t take it, so you use words like “trash”, “hate”, etc. to try and shut down every bit of dissent. Well, it’s not happening.
Try to rein in your emotions when it comes to Trump. You’re letting them rule you.
I’ve said before that Trump is performing a service by saying some necessary things, but it seems some are unable to take it for what it’s worth. You don’t base a presidency on a few red-meat statements, no matter how good they sound. You research the man, his history, and his record....THAT is what you judge him on. But you don’t want your hero vetted. You want people to shut up so you can slam him in the White House.
Does that sound familiar to you? It happened in 2008.
And you’re damned right I have every right to criticize him, no matter how much he is worth or how little I am worth, and you have no information on my worth, nor is it any of your business. You’re saying that only those with wealth equal to Trump’s have a right to vet him-—the man who wants to run the country.
Have you taken leave of your senses?
The concern about “cults of personality” seems a repeat from the anti-Palins, anti-Cains. When one separates from the pack, out come the knives.
C of A....always ahead of the herd : )
Why?
“Trump is like a snow plow who will move out and BOOM! Ted Cruz President.”
If you want Cruz, and are convinced Donald has no chance, then Trump is a good thing. I really don’t get your strategizing, if you are real. Punish Trump now and drive him out, and you just show the RINOs we won’t back a candidate who is “extreme” (ie enforce the laws and stop murderers and rapists from coming across the border to kill and rape Americans), and you destroy a guy who is preventing the media from focusing hate on Cruz. You’ll get more RINOs afraid of speaking honestly, and the media hammering on Cruz relentlessly (which sadly works).
Plus you risk making Donald supporters hate you, and maybe reduce Cruz’s appeal to them later, because they hate you specifically for attacking a guy they like. Then Donald moves out, and BOOM! Jeb Bush President.
It just seems like such bad strategy and so unnecessary, I find it hard to believe you are honestly pursuing it this aggressively. Even Cruz is openly making friends with Donald. If that isn’t a clear message of what he wants his supporters to do, I don’t know what is.
For the record, I love Cruz, and was all in for him before, but I support Donald right now to show solidarity and loyalty to him while he is at the tip of the spear on immigration, and send a message nationally that strong support for us equals support in the polls.
As a guy who loves Cruz, I can’t see your logic.
Absolutely - and as you know, Trump's success is not only over estimated, it's given as proof that he can turn the economy around. Let's get real...Trump's story is not rags to riches...it's riches to rags (bankruptcies) four times...and back to riches. It's also always come with cronyism, greasing the skids of elected officials. That's more like Russia's oligarchical system than what our free market system is supposed to be. It's the whole theme of his book "The Art of the Deal."
From the article:
"But yeah, the GOP know that too. And given what you know now about what to expect from the professionally republican, what do you think Wall Street, The CoC and The GOP will do to stop Donald Trump?"
They will do anything and everything to stop him, even construct their own Ft. Marcy Park. That Mexican drug dealer may have been a warning to Trump. He needs to take on more security.
Have you read the latest book? I think its actually a couple of years old. Don’t know whether to buy or try to get from library
“...I assume, he’s an opponent, but ...”
I’d say maybe Trump should see Cruz as less of an “opponent” and more of a colleague who also wants to save the country and the reverse the spiral.
The only opponents are Hillary, the dems, and the RINO establishment.
No, I have not.....but I’m betting the “Art of the Deal” is still modus operandi....
Haven’t read it...your points are well taken.
Both Cruz and Trump will be on FOX tonight. Probably taping segment this afternoon. (KELLY FILE & HANNITY)
Trump tower is close to the studio
Iirc Trump has his own studio in the Tower so they may not even leave it
You’re kind, friend....it’s more like my last nerve just twanged. ;)
You are probably correct
ART OF THE DEAL is used as required reading in so many business ‘classes and is so cheap a little reminder to previous readers should be encouraged
The new book apparently analyzes the current situation in US and lays out a plan to correct it.
Time for Trump to remind folks of these particular books by name
And in the Art of the Deal, you will learn, among other things, how to make it big in crony capitalism......how to ingratiate yourself to power with money...in order to get favors done and deals done. Is that really a conservative prescription?
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