Posted on 07/20/2016 6:32:36 AM PDT by lodi90
CLEVELAND (AP) -- Sen. Ted Cruz's Texas-size political ambitions will be on full display Wednesday as the primary runner-up delivers a prime-time convention speech, but holds off on a full-throated endorsement of Republican nominee Donald Trump.
The conservative senator repeatedly clashed with Trump during a bitter primary fight, with the New York businessman mocking the lawmaker as "Lyin' Ted." With an eye toward 2020, Cruz's team drafted a convention speech focusing on adherence to the Constitution, a calling card for conservatives and a perceived contrast with Trump.
Cruz has not endorsed Trump despite pleas for party unity from the campaign and party officials. Nor is he expected to in his speech, which was carefully screened by Trump campaign officials, the senator's aides said.
(Excerpt) Read more at hosted.ap.org ...
I think this is a promise from Cruz that he will be a thorn in a Trump admin (if it comes to that) and hold president Trump to adhere to a more conservative policy. Which is not a bad thing.
Depends on what he’s actually saying and doing, I hope people can discern if Cruz really gets too ambitious for his own gain.
We all have to remember Country First, and that includes Ted and Donald.
WASHINGTON — Ted Cruz still won’t endorse Donald Trump, but the rivals mended fences Thursday sufficiently for Trump to offer the senator a coveted speaking slot at the GOP convention.
Cruz insisted Friday that the appearance doesn’t amount to a tacit seal of approval.
“Donald asked me if I would speak at the Republican convention. I said I’d be happy to. We had no discussion whatsoever of any endorsement,” Cruz said. “Our country is facing enormous challenges and I do not believe it is the responsible choice for conservatives to shy away from defending the principles we believe in, from talking about who America is and how we go forward to get on a better path, and that’s what I intend to do at the convention.”
don’t see how anyone could say such a thing, after having watched Ted Cruz’ behavior over the last year.
So then Trump has given the prime time spot to a person who is not "good and honorable"?
GDP growth = strong military in the long-term
middle class solutions that benefit all Americans = leftist rhetoric and a weak economy and military
I agree that if Cruz doesn’t he will have badly tarnished himself, but he will, or Trump is stupid as I said.
So why don’t you all wait before attacking him.
Too many hear come of like leftists who try to destroy people before they know what they are going to say or do.
I though Freepers were better than that.
I started out in the Cruz camp, but what I’ve seen in the last three months disgusts me.
Let's see what happens. Here's where we stand...
Cruz: We had no discussion whatsoever of any endorsement.
Trump: If there’s no endorsement, then I would not invite them to speak
Smart....Trump’s team reviewing the speech beforehand.
That makes about the most sense of all. Let Lyin' Ted have his moment in the sun. If he dumps a smelly Obama on the stage, it only hurts him, and Trump can always say "Hey, I gave him a chance."
There was a report that ~100 convention neverTrump delegates threw in the towel and endorsed Trump as soon as the speaking slot was offered and accepted. If Trump pragmatically undercut the neverTrumps via this offer, it was simply an intelligent move.
If it wouldn’t harm Trump, then why would Trump be “stupid,” to have offered it?
Ted Cruz reminds me of the Parable of the Trees... Judges 9:1-21 Ted Cruz is the bramble tree...
I disagree. If Cruz fails to endorse Trump that does not make Trump stupid for letting him speak. As Fantasywriter pointed out, it will damage Cruz, not Trump.
Trump is taking no risk here either way. Worst case scenario Trump shows that he is secure, gracious, willing to reach out and unite the party. Cruz looks like an immature child. If Cruz does endorse, then they both come off smelling like roses.
Of course I’ll have to wait and see, but meanwhile I have my doubts whether Cruz has the strength of character to swallow his pride and do the right thing for the cause. So far that has not been his MO.
Well I did think it was asinine of Cruz to make his acceptance of Trump’s gracious offer all about the absence of endorsement talk. But as you said, we’ll see.
I started out in the Cruz camp, but what I’ve seen in the last three months disgusts me.
Yep. I was a big supporter of Cruz for many years up until he dishonestly campaigned for Obama’s TPA. I’ve never been more disappointed in a politician. So much at stake and Cruz has to have selfish tantrum instead of help save the country from Hillary. Shocking, IMO.
Thanks; that’s how it looks to me too.
It would hurt all three, by showing disunity.
Even at that I admit Trump will win in a landslide.
What you don’t understand is that if Cruz doesn’t and instead shows disunity, many will not vote.
OK, sure Trump wins. but Reagan won with many Democrats and Independents also, but he never won the House. While he did win the Senate, he lost it 2 years later.
We want Trump to not just keep both houses, but we want him to get to 60 in the Senate so all Judge appointments are just rubber stamps. With maybe a super majority in both houses as the Democrats had from “09 -”11”. Then everything will be rubber stamped.
We don’t want to lose the Senate, and that is what could happen if Cruz send a message to his followers that he won’t support Trump.
Maybe Trump is giving the Cruzlims an olive branch by allowing Cruz to speak prime time - so they will not make a mess of things later. No other reason to allow a divisive speech in prime time or any time.
That makes about the most sense of all. Let Lyin’ Ted have his moment in the sun. If he dumps a smelly Obama on the stage, it only hurts him, and Trump can always say “Hey, I gave him a chance.”
That is exactly what Trump is magnanimously doing at this convention. And also why Cruzers ginned up an issue and threw a tantrum on the convention floor on Monday. Trump is keeping his end of the bargain and the never Trump Cruzers need a reason to continue campaigning for Hillary. How pathetic is that?
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-bloggers/3451141/posts
S N I C K E R!!!! Rules are rules so they claimed!!!
Your link just showed us that Cruz's response wasn't "all about" the absence of an endorsement.
Cruz said. “Our country is facing enormous challenges and I do not believe it is the responsible choice for conservatives to shy away from defending the principles we believe in, from talking about who America is and how we go forward to get on a better path, and that’s what I intend to do at the convention.”
And a well timed endorsement at the convention would certainly preclude an endorsement, when asked about it before the convention.
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