Cruz can run again in 4 or 8 or 12 years. He can run, but he can’t win—that was my point.
Since Reagan ran, the GOPe has done everything in their power to ensure another Reagan—an outsider winning the nomination—never happens again.
2016, imho, is the high watermark for Cruz. The only—ONLY—reason has a shot this cycle is because Trump stepped in and blew up the GOPe’s plans (to nominate Jeb) and the GOPe didn’t recognize their plan was blowing up in their face till it was too late.
They won’t make that mistake again. Which is why Cruz can run again in 2020, but he won’t sniff the nomination.
On the other hand, if Trump is elected (with Cruz as VP) they will be the heads of the party and can ensure that when it comes time for Cruz to run for prez in 2024 the rules won’t be stacked against him (in fact, they can stack the rules in Ted’s favor).
Trump’s a fluke (just as Obama was). Cruz can either take advantage of that fluke, or let the system return to normal. Normal as in, stacked against Ted.
No one thought Reagan would be president in the 1970s or Bush I.
No one thought Bibi could come back and be prime minister again in Israel.