I don’t compare Cruz to Reagan politically because Reagan is the gold sanders when it came to conservative principle and unmatched political skill. Cruz has half of that in my opinion and built a rock solid organization unmatched outside of the Obama structure of 08 and 12. He’s just not the happy, charismatic campaigner. That’s a rare skillset and one that rarely comes out of Harvard Law.
To say Reagan didn’t turn off a massive part of the electorate, it was every bit as polarizing of an election year and things said about Reagan were every bit as demeaning this race. He was hated by many and for the same reasons that he was against the current political class.
They are not the same but there probably haven’t been two more similar in the time since. The difference is a loved charismatic actor vs a smart, high achieving constitutional lawyer. Actors are loved. Lawyers not so much.
Reagan is the gold sanders
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And Bernie is the gray sanders.
To respond fully to you, I’d have to lay down some things that would lend itself to a flame war.
There are a number of issues that surround Cruz that would make it impossible for him to run again.
We learned too much about him, his fellow travelers.