Not that I’m above attacking the devout Cruzlim hordes here at FR, but I didn’t attack them here. I called Cruz an arrogant, creepy, liar. His supporters may not want to hear that, but that’s how a lot of people see Ted Cruz. And there’s definitely strong evidence that he is arrogant, creepy, and a liar.
Personally, I think that many of the Cruz supporters here at FR are paid disruptors. Among the ones who are not paid disruptors, there will be time after the nomination to make nice. In the meantime, they are basically advocating for a spoiler who cannot possibly win. They have a ‘win-at-all-costs’ attitude and many are as arrogant as their candidate. I have zero patience for that kind of behavior.
There are two types of people who support Ted Cruz: Those who still buy into the notion that saying you’re a ‘conservative’ actually means something concrete and those who are deathly afraid of our corrupt system actually changing. The first group will need to be dragged across the finish line as best we can. The second group, which has many of the ‘conservative’ media types in it, will never go along no matter what we do.
We will win this election with them or without them.
Perhaps if we stuck to the issues instead of attacking someone the Cruz supporters admire (with good reasons if you read the positions Cruz has actually taken and the votes he has actually cast instead of judging him by the attacks his opponents launch), they would be enthusiastic in supporting the eventual anti-Amnesty, anti-Obamacare, and pro-gun nominee.
I would categorize almost every presidential candidate of the past several decades as arrogant, including both Trump and Cruz, with Carson either a rare exception or better at hiding it. All of them, including Trump and Cruz have from time to time cast the facts in the best possible spin for their positions, and all have staff who have gone beyond that level to outright lies. As for "creepy", that comes from believing the attacks against Cruz (or against Trump), not from reality.
Attacks on Trump or his wife as people may make Cruz more likely to get the nomination, but they are also more likely to elect Hillary. Similarly, attacks on Cruz or his wife as people may make Trump more likely to get the nomination, but they are also more likely to elect Hillary.
The best thing for Trump as a candidate is for both Cruz and Kasich to drop out, but that isn't going to happen. Kasich will not drop out. If Kasich stays, the best thing for Trump is for Cruz to stay too. That doesn't guarantee a Trump win, but a three-person race gives Trump the best odds short of both rivals dropping out. Trump voters should not resent Cruz for staying.