[fireman15]

Thanks for the link. I have seen so many family members and friends who have had incredible potential fail because they got hooked on alcohol at an early age. The people who managed to get prohibition passed were trying to address real problems. Long term abuse of alcohol changes people and robs them of what they could have achieved. Those of us who avoid it are bewildered by behaviors that make no sense.

People who come from homes with parent alcoholics learn to lie at an early age even to themselves to hide the terrible things that they see as children. Unfortunately most, like Ted start abusing alcohol themselves as soon as they are able and the lying and deception gets worse and worse. There is nothing about Ted that is not deceptive. It is all a facade. But there are so many cracks. His situation is so obvious to those of us who have spent a lot of time around alcoholics.

There are a lot of very sincere Cruz supporters here. I suppose that if I hadn't already experienced what I have and seen what I have seen that I could easily be one of them. But there is nothing worse than putting your faith in a lying high functioning alcoholic, especially one who has stooped to Elmer Gantry style antics which we are now seeing from Ted. He now sounds like a preacher which is a recent development which strikes me as very disingenuous.

http://talkingpointsmemo.com/news/ted-cruz-religion-campaign

[Fantasywriter]

Thank you for that thoughtful and insightful post. I wasn’t raised by alcoholics, but I married a person who was. As such, I noticed about Cruz exactly what you commented on. He rewrites history without a second’s hesitation—and instantly the rewrite becomes his reality. It’s nothing short of insanity.

You are right about the root cause as well. In his alcoholic family, he learned fast that history is not what happened; history is what the Alcoholic in Charge [doubtless Rafael Sr] said happened. You question/challenge that ‘reality’ at your own great personal risk.

It’s a tragic environment for a child to be raised in. The adulthood of that same child, barring extensive intervention, is utterly destructive to all concerned.

[pugmama]

You are right on the money with this fireman15.
You have articulated very clearly,some of the behaviors common in alcoholics, children of alcoholics, as well as untreated functional ones.
There are so many stories floating around re the alcoholism in the Cruz family.

[Lumper20]

True. Alcohol is very bad when abused like any drug. I have seen them go to drugs and stronger drugs. Sadly one of Cruz’s sister’s died from booze and drugs.