Trump: Cruz ‘never faced a debater like me’

The Hill ^ | April 23, 2016 | Jessie Hellmann

[kinsman redeemer]

"I beat him in every single debate. Every single debate, I beat Ted Cruz. He was supposed to be a good debater," Trump said at a rally in Bridgeport, Conn.

"He never had a debater like me where I interrupt him every four minutes. … I don't think he actually is a good debater."

[DennisR]

Methinks dt is a bit delusional on this one.

[kinsman redeemer]

From the article:

Earlier this week, Republican National Committee Chair Reince Priebus said the committee would discuss holding more debates.

[poconopundit]

Trump will not debate Cruz because his "art of the deal" experience has taught him: you don't win by setting up an "I won, you lost" scenario.  After all, you may need that opponent's support some day.

Cruz is a good orator and he has excellent memory over facts, but he's not strong on the human compassion side.

Cruz's debating style is a bit risky too.  His strategy is to build up a fascade of knowing-all-the-facts and plays loose with the truth.  He knows that in the vast majority of cases, no one will question the details of facts.

But that approach backfired on Cruz in the CBS debate.  When Cruz doubled down on the details of a certain historical fact, the moderator Dickerson recited to him the actual facts.  And the lump in Cruz's throat was visible.

But the point of debating is not to show your mastery of the facts at all, but to appeal to the heart of the jury or judge or voter.

If you carpet bomb your opponent, the jury is likely to turn against you because you piled on and treated the opponent unfairly.  You also sow the seeds of revenge and retribution.

A good debater would never make a sweeping generalization about "New York values".  Trump capitalized big on that Cruz mistake -- not by directly attacking Cruz, but by pointing to acts of personal heroism and valor during 9/11 that stirred the hearts and pity of voters.

[HoosierWordsmith]

Wow! Had not seen the JR screed...I thought he was a Cruz supporter?

His editorial “opus” lends new meaning to the term FreeRepublic...

I thought in this free Republic of ours, we embrace 1st amendment rights, not the totalitarian desires of “Marxist Obama”?

Alas, it has been poorly camouflaged for some time that FR had morphed into TrumpBananaRepublic...now this tyranny is clear for all to see...

Thank you for the post...Go Cruz 2016!

[AnAmericanMother]

That's not the way it works.

You can prep for *weeks* and a question will still come out of left field.

Been there done that.

[Sacajaweau]

You’ve been before the USSC?

[DoodleDawg]

After all, you may need that opponent's support some day.

I don't think he needs to worry about that where Cruz is concerned.

[AnAmericanMother]

Nope. Plenty of arguments before state SCs and Fed CCs though. Same drill, though stakes arguably lower (but not for your client).

You have no way to prepare for every possible question, some justices take delight in tossing curve balls. You'll occasionally win a case on a curve ball, so it's important to be able to think on your feet.

[kinsman redeemer]

That was then.

This is now.

Now and Then there are changes.

[Balding_Eagle]

I'm sure Trump knows this: In an actual debate format you can't interrupt your opponent every four minutes...

LOL!

Rich, a Cruzer complaining about Trump 'playing by the rules'.

[Popman]

Rich, a Cruzer complaining about Trump 'playing by the rules'.

Reading comprehension not a strong skill...?

Where was my complaint...?

Is there something wrong with playing by the rules...?

[cornfedcowboy]

The level of exuberance for a TV and real estate personality knows no bounds. Truly amazing. You really think Trump is a good debater? Really? The sad part is that you have put a good deal of thought in to this. Hook line and sinker.

[RedWulf]

Even Ted Cruz admitted that Trump was shreading other GOP canidates on the debate floor which is why he didn’t attack Trump. He wanted Trump reduce the field, something he was incapable of doing.

[poconopundit]

The difference is my concept of "debating" is winning, not just rhetoric and legal beagle stuff.

In a courtroom, I'd rather have Trump defending me than Cruz. Trump understands human nature and the buttons to push on my behalf.

[kinsman redeemer]

In a courtroom, I'd rather have Trump defending me than Cruz.

Then I'd gladly be on the prosecuting side. Gladly. In this case, I'd go for the maximum sentence.

These kinds of perpetrators need to be off the street.

[norwaypinesavage]

"Talk on a 4th grade level and you will pick up for more voters if you talk at a college level."

There are a limited number of voters that respond only to baby talk.

[DoodleDawg]

In a courtroom, I'd rather have Trump defending me than Cruz. Trump understands human nature and the buttons to push on my behalf.

Trump spending all his time tell the jury about how great he is, how rich he is, and how wonderful his business is would probably not get me off of whatever crime I was charged with so I'd go with Cruz. Someone who knows what he's doing.

[DoodleDawg]

Rich, a Cruzer complaining about Trump 'playing by the rules'.

As funny as a Trumpster suggesting Trump might actually know what the rules are?

[poconopundit]

OK, I guess we’ve beat this subject to death. Cruz is a skilled debater, and Trump is clearly a skillful communicator. They represent completely different styles.