The Cruz v. Trump Rumble Is Coming Tonight

Red State ^ | 12/15/2015 | Leon H. Wolf

[conservativejoy]

At long last, the battle between Cruz and Trump has been joined. Trump's remarks on Cruz have made national news, and both Limbaugh and Levin have called out Trump. There's no way the moderators of tonight's debate can let this incident pass without remarking on it. Always before, Trump and Cruz have avoided coming to blows because both were mutually agreeable to it.

Now, it seems like that is no longer the case for Trump. And even if his remark may have been off the cuff (as I somewhat expect that it was) and that he probably genuinely feels no personal animus towards Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) 100%, Donald Trump cannot apologize. For one thing, I think he might be physically incapable of saying the words, "I'm sorry." As in, he suffers from a rare and debilitating throat condition that affects him in exactly one way , inability to form the words "I'm" and "sorry" in that order.

For another thing, part of Trump's brand is built on the idea that he is a guy who does not apologize, or admit error, or appear contrite for any reason. If he refused to apologize for mocking a disabled guy , and was praised by his followers for it , how can he apologize for unintentionally besmirching the political reputation of Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) 100%?

For Cruz, this then becomes a case of him being in a war, whether he knows it or not. The Donald cannot back down, and thus far has had no reason to. Everyone he has taken on the GOP field has ultimately faded, with the exception of Sen. Marco Rubio (R-FL) 94%, who at least has been kept at bay. Trump has no reason to think that tussling with Cruz will end any differently; although the reaction of Limbaugh and Levin may indicate that he may have misread the playing field in that respect.

That does not necessarily mean that Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) 100% will respond in kind; in fact, I rather suspect he won’t. Cruz might well go on saying that he thinks The Donald is great, and awesome, and the best think that’s ever happened to America, even while Trump is literally spitting in his face.

However, that in and of itself does not indicating that Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) 100% is not fighting; rather, it indicates that he is fighting in essentially the same manner as Ghandi, and hoping to win by roughly the same means.

But one way or another, the confrontation is coming. Trump realizes that he cannot win the nomination with just the ~30% that he has, and the amount that Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) 100% is consolidating against him has reached the point of presenting a genuine threat to Trump. Unlike Carson, Trump knows better than to expect that Cruz will be undone on his own through being unprepared or ill-equipped to handle hostile questioning.

Sooner or later it had to happen, and Trump is dictating that it will happen now.

[SampleMan]

Cruz wasn’t slapped. If he can’t handle a little barb from Trump, wait till the media and Dems scrutinize him.

Did you just awake from a 10 year coma? The media has been on a Cruz hate fest for years.

[rrrod]

BS......this is getting blown out of proportion. Rush and Levin just raised questions regarding the wisdom of Trump slights against Cruz.

True enough Trump is easily manipulated and this may be another sign while voters are taking a second look.

[CA Conservative]

Cruz is a maniac martyr that has pretty much lost every battle and alienated everyone.

It is these kinds of statements that tell me that support for Trump is not based on any kind of conservative philosophy, or even on opposition to "the establishment". For years, conservatives have complained about the GOP getting elected on promises to stand against the Dems and then going along with them once elected. We have maybe 2 or 3 GOP senators who have actually stayed true to their campaign promises and opposed the actions of the Democrat-GOPe alliance. And now those same "conservatives" who complained are tearing down Cruz because he did what he said he would do when elected.

As I have said all along, the Trumpkins have become a cult of personality, hell-bent on electing their own version of Obama. They care nothing about constitutional governance, conservative principles, reducing the size and scope of government, religious freedom, personal liberty, etc. - the just want to WIN. They will ignore, excuse or reinterpret anything Trump says that demonstrates his unconservative nature, and they will attack anyone who opposes Trump, regardless of how long and well that person has fought for conservative and constitutional principles.

[moehoward]

Cruz is too smart for that to do it in public.

[Kenny]

Didn’t mean to bring the Cruz bots out of the woodwork. :-(

[ripnbang]

If you think that was a hate fest, better buckle up.

[erkelly]

And Cruz needs to back walk his remarks about Trump, which after all started the whole thing — if he can, which I doubt. Bush Senior hurt Reagen with his voodoo economics remark in the general election and hurt his presidency (I know Reagan won but that voo-doo remark is still being brought up to this very day.)

Cruz has seriously hurt Trump’s future presidency with his remark about his judgment. Cruz could not have said anything worse; nothing could hurt Trump more than what he said. I think Trump had to respond as he did, it was appropriate, questioning his (Cruz) judgement as well; Cruz has certainly alienated and angered congressional leadership who as president he will have to work with. Rush and Levin are both being utterly utterly utterly unjust about this. Indeed I think their actions say that the fix is in, Cruz has been bought by the establishment.

[Duchess47]

Well stated.

[Georgia Girl 2]

“They will ignore, excuse or reinterpret anything Trump says that demonstrates his unconservative nature”

Unconservative stuff like:

Build a wall, secure the border and kick out the illegals
Stop all Muslim immigration
Lower taxes on the middle class and bring back the offshore investment money
Re-negotiate all US trade deals so America benefits
Cut the waste and fraud in govt agencies

Give me a break. LOL!

[SampleMan]

Cruz and Gowdy have been swapping places as public enemies #1 and #2 in the national media for years now. I think he can handle the heat just fine.

[Jane Long]

True enough Trump is easily manipulated and this may be another sign while voters are taking a second look.

---

I haven’t seen that poll.

I have seen the one where Trump is leading at 41%!!

[rrrod]

True, I was commenting on comments. Im happy with either Trump or Cruz. I think Trump would be better for beating hillary.
Ive donated to both.

[VerySadAmerican]

“Me? Apologize? Admit I was wrong? The only time I’ve ever been wrong was one time I thought I was wrong but turned out to be right.”

Seriously, what he needs to do is point out that the media lied about what Scalia said and “I should have known better. You do it to me all the time.”

[tflabo]

I agree with Rush and Levin-— so Cruz is a ‘maniac’ for boldy speaking out as a senator? Hello-— he can hit Cruz on his support for the Corker bill (Iran deal votes) but Trump calls the DC pols ‘stupid’ and incompetent> Rightfully so— therefore him calling Cruz a ‘maniac’ is just off the charts. Trump and Cruz are 1 and 2 because they BOTH have been outspoken and bold. Trump is just plain wrong on this matter— and its poor judgement on his part.
And I’m a Trump supporter but he looks like an idiot on this one.

[ripnbang]

Gowdy? Please. Ask anyone on the street who doesn’t follow FR if they know who he is. That’s my point with candidate Cruz. Outside the FR world, Cruz is “that guy who shut down the govt and cost Grandma her SS check”. Wait till the full microscope is placed on him and the attack/lie adds start.

[Georgia Girl 2]

I predict little to no fireworks tonight.

The only fireworks going on were Rush and Mark Levin screeching like fishwives over a non event yesterday.

[CA Conservative]

Unconservative stuff like:

Eminent domain abuse;
Support for single-payer healthcare;
Support for ethanol subsidies;
Support for affirmative action;
Support for big-government solutions;
Support for Democratic candidates;
Support for mandates via executive orders...

Shall I go on???

[Sans-Culotte]

Whatever. You said Patton never apologized when he did.

[Servant of the Cross]

The character of Scalia's comments changes more than somewhat when it is revealed he was repeating a third party's objection to obtain the reaction from one of the first parties.

Exactly. In their haste to defend Saint Donald from any consequences from his loose tongue, his apologists have no concerns to trample upon anyone, including Justice Scalia. Shame.

During the 90-minute session of oral arguments, Antonin Scalia riled listeners by suggesting that black scholars perform better in "slower track" academic programs. He also speculated that minority students benefiting from affirmative action who matriculate at "advanced" colleges and universities might have been pushed out of their depth.

"Most of the black scientists in this country don't come from schools like the University of Texas," he said. "They come from lesser schools where they do not feel that they're - that they're being pushed ahead in - in classes that are too - too fast for them."

Scalia, a conservative justice who's served on the Supreme Court since 1986, has been a longtime critic of affirmative action and is known for using colorful, even silly, language in the courtroom.

Scalia did not say that he personally believed that black students are better off at less-rigorous schools; he introduced the suggestions by saying "There are those who contend that ...," and was reportedly referencing an amicus brief written by a UCLA law professor.

And yet the Trump apologists go FULL MSNBC/Al Sharpton on Justice Scalia. Thanks Donald.

[erod]