The True Conservative Choice is Ted Cruz, not Donald Trump, Part 1: Demonstrated Backbone
The main problem with Donald Trump’s candidacy is not his immigration stance, or his narcissism, or his stupid hair. No, the real problem is that Trump is a distraction from the true conservative choice: Ted Cruz.
This is Part 1 of what I expect to be a multi-part series on Cruz’s superiority to Trump. I’ll keep these posts relatively bite-sized (for me) because I am short on time and so are you. Today’s point: Cruz has something Trump doesn’t: demonstrated backbone within the political process.
The current success of Trump and Carson in the polls, to me, reflects a typical and understandable American sentiment: a hatred of political “insiders” and a desire to look outside that process for someone different. But why do Americans do that? It’s because it’s so rare for someone inside the political process to stay true to what they said they would do. So Americans naturally turn their gaze outside Washington.
But what is a better indicator of someone’s willingness to fight the establishment: mere outsider status, or a demonstrated track record of fighting the establishment as an elected official? Clearly the latter.
An example makes the case. Pretend we are in 2008, in a hypothetical alternate universe in which Donald Trump and Ron Paul each seeks to be the big-L Libertarian Party candidate. Pretend that you are a committed Libertarian Party supporter who must choose between Trump and Ron Paul. (Yes, I’m asking you to pretend you’re a little crazy. It’s a hypo!) Trump brings to the table his hyper-inflated sense of self-importance and a collection of radical libertarian proposals, many of which directly contradict his past positions. Ron Paul brings to the table his long track record of voting in a libertarian manner in Congress — an institution that swallows most men whole and corrupts them entirely. Which man gives a committed libertarian better reasons to believe they will actually do what they say? Of course you would have to cast your vote for Paul.
But you’re not a crazy person who supports the Libertarian Party. You’re a conservative who is tired of watching Republicans march off to Washington and stab you in the back the second they get there.
I recently read Ted Cruz’s book (thanks, DRJ!) and it is packed with stories of Cruz standing up for principle when it counts. When a bunch of GOP’ers plan to betray the principles they campaigned on, and gather in a back room to collude to make their sell-out look good, Ted Cruz is the kind of man who will stand up and say: No! He doesn’t just talk the talk. He has walked the walk.
Cruz has paid a heavy price for these shows of principle, in terms of his standing with other Senators. You can’t stand in the well of the Senate and call your Majority Leader a liar and expect people to like you. They will run to their favored Politico media outlets and leak all manner of dishonest pablum designed to make you look bad. Cruz knows that. But he stands up to them anyway.
America doesn’t need another outsider who will become One of Them the second he gets to Washington. America needs someone who has shown they can be on the inside and still fight for those on the outside.
That man is not the narcissistic blowhard who is currently the GOP front-runner.
That man is Ted Cruz.
The sooner conservatives wise up and recognize this, the sooner we can get to work electing the right man.
I recognize others here will differ on who the true conservative choice is, even if they agree it is not Trump. That’s fine. Feel free to make the case. For now, my interest is in showing the base that Trump is distracting them from their best candidate.
Patterico (3cc0c1) — 8/19/2015 @ 7:49 amThe current success of Trump and Carson in the polls, to me, reflects a typical and understandable American sentiment:
I’m not sure it’s so much that alone as much as — certainly in the case of Ted Cruz — a certain likeability, or lack of such, based on very superficial characteristics. Cruz is easily the most philophically well grounded of the Republican candidates but he lacks a certain appeal, sometimes referred to charisma, due in part to his noticeably aquiline facial features. And, yea, that’s a silly criterion that people will use against a candidate like Cruz, but in the world of reality where both ideology and so-called “likeability” or personality, or looks, do count, it regrettably can’t be dismissed or ignored.
Mark (24da9b) — 8/19/2015 @ 8:02 amLet’s rewind to 2008. Obama claimed that he would fix Washington, heal racial divisions, work in a bipartisan manner, and end corruption. My thought was that he had over a decade in elected office and had never done those things at a lower level. He hadn’t co-sponsored bills with Republicans, nor had he tried to fix the famous Chicago corruption; despite plenty of opportunities, he never had done the things he said he would do as President. “Give me what I want, and I’ll be a different person than I have been” doesn’t work out, whether it be getting married, electing the president of the Junior League, or electing the President of the United States.
But more Americans voted for him than John McCain because Obama said the things they wanted to hear, and we’ve had seven years of a stagnant economy, have almost doubled the national debt, the Middle East is in freefall, and ISIS has taken over Iraq.
So let’s go elect another guy with no record or discernible moral character because he says the things we like hearing!
Have people lost their effing minds? Electing people who say pretty things does not work well.
bridget (d90803) — 8/19/2015 @ 8:03 amMr. Cruz has positioned himself to gain a majority of Trump’s backers when Trump backs out. Since Trump does not need any money, these people will be more than willing to send Ted more money.
mg (31009b) — 8/19/2015 @ 8:06 am(For the record, I’m Team 2010 – or in the case of Cruz, 2012 – the group that won office saying things that weren’t popular, who were on the forefront of the fight against the Obama Administration. The people who took out entrenched incumbents and own. I don’t see going really wrong with any of them. They are also likeable people who are good role models, the kind of candidate that people feel good telling their kids about. I think that character matters a lot, and the amazing sweep of 2014 was due to us having a whole slew of candidates with integrity. So hell, no to Donald Trump.)
bridget (d90803) — 8/19/2015 @ 8:06 amHave people lost their effing minds? Electing people who say pretty things does not work well.
There’s a big difference about the major issue Trump is highlighting, since illegal immigration is anything but “pretty” or easygoing in this age of political correctness run amok and where everyone loves the idea of compassion for compassion’s sake.
Mark (24da9b) — 8/19/2015 @ 8:10 amI think it is wrong to even include Trump in a discussion of conservatism. Because he is anything but. There is little to no history of him supporting conservative ideals, and much talk supporting Dem ideals, and sending $ their way.
JD (0b767c) — 8/19/2015 @ 8:14 amSo has Walker, and so have many of the other candidates. We’re blessed with an abundance of integrity. Which makes it even more astounding that people should go whoring after Trump.
Milhouse (a04cc3) — 8/19/2015 @ 8:16 ammg (#4), I’m with you again. When Trump gets caught in his own rhetoric, he’ll back away and Cruz should be able to jump. Reading Cruz’s book was a major eyeopener for me. At this point Cruz is my frontrunner.
bald01 (f38852) — 8/19/2015 @ 8:28 amTrump is not a libertarian, a conservative, or even a Republican. His support only partially consists of Republicans. I don’t think it’s necessary to talk down Trump, he can do that just fine. Part of his appeal is that he is contrary. Ignoring his candidacy, which is purely a media creation, is the most effective way of leaching his evanescent support a little more quickly.
Ted Cruz is a senator. That’s not an insuperable barrier, given who’s in office now, but he’s not ever been responsible for anything. Doesn’t mean I wouldn’t vote for him, but Senate bloviation should not be confused with governing.
Gabriel Hanna (714388) — 8/19/2015 @ 8:37 amMaybe.
I want to hear Cruz make a better explanation of some of the more questionable votes he’s cast than he wanted the option to be available for future Presidents.
formwiz (6b3a5a) — 8/19/2015 @ 8:39 amWhat everybody else said.
As for Trump spending his own money, his history is that he spends other people’s money and ducks down from under with bankruptcies. That’s lies, bluff and bluster too, like all the rest of him.
nk (dbc370) — 8/19/2015 @ 8:46 amCruz is the best of the bunch. And he is co-opting a lot of Trump’s policies. Understand-Trump has made a point of touching the 3rd rail of politics, immigration, after 50 years of the GOP doing nothing about it at all. When common sense becomes verboten, the first guy to speak common sense is going to get greeted as a conquering hero. And Cruz and Trump seem to be as cozy with each other as anyone else in the field.And cruz calling McConnell and Boehner liars is a selling point. The Establishment GOP has done NOTHING since winning both houses. NOTHING.
Only thing that gives me some pause-his wife being a director for Goldman Sachs. Not saying it’s disqualifying or there is any great conspiracy, simply it gives you some reason to pause.
Bugg (137ba5) — 8/19/2015 @ 8:53 ambaldo1 – Are you ok? Nobody agrees with me, let alone twice!!!
mg (31009b) — 8/19/2015 @ 9:08 amnor had he tried to fix the famous Chicago corruption
Obama has a well known record of doing the opposite. There was a well known black politician named Stroger who was running for the Cook County Board, a notorious corrupt organization. His opponent was a man named Claypool, a Democrat (of cooers-this is Chicago) but a reformer. Obama could have supported Claypool and shown some reform chops but he didn’t.
Despite the endorsements, and the fact that Stroger suffered a stroke a week before, Claypool still lost to Stroger in the primary. The Cook County Democratic Party appointed Stroger’s son Todd Stroger as the nominee to run against Tony Peraica in the general election. Todd Stroger won the election. Claypool refused to endorse Stroger and was chastised heavily by Democratic politicians and stalwarts including Mayor Daley.
Chicago and Obama. Nothing new.
Mike K (90dfdc) — 8/19/2015 @ 9:12 amBugg,
Goldman Sachs supported Obama in 2008 but that changed in 2012: GS employees and executives donated $1.8 million to Romney in 2012 and only $136,000 to Obama.
DRJ (1dff03) — 8/19/2015 @ 9:15 amThis,
is an intriguing observation. I can’t figure out whether Trumps’ cantilevered platform is one very long hair that has been sculpted into a hat brim, or two somewhat shorter ones. In either case it is a marvel of engineering.
I think one way to determine if a candidate is going to be swayed by the DC Cartel is their willingness to undergo cosmetic surgery to “fix” a receding hair line. I suspect they all think they are an embodiment of JFK’s charisma, and the only thing that is holding most of them back is that shiny spot headed aft above their eyes. This leaves them open to all sorts of foolishness.
Needless to say, anyone who resorts to these measures is deceiving only themselves. We should not join that parade.
bobathome (4a2679) — 8/19/2015 @ 9:23 amCruz is vastly more political savvy than he is given credit for. He came from virtually nowhere on the political landscape to win the Texas republican primary for senate, and having to go through the run off. Granted texas is conservative state, so he had the natural advantage, yet he had very little name recognition starting out. There is no reason to panic at this time. He peaked at the right time. Look at all the “great candidates who peaked too early. Hillary looks like she has peaked why too early twice – both in 2008 and 2015/2016.
The polls with trump/carson/huckabee in the lead are picking up voters/ not likely voters/ not likely republican voters/ not likely republican primary voters.
I would suspect that Cruz/Rubio/Walker/Carly lead among likely republican primary voters
Joe from Texas (debac0) — 8/19/2015 @ 9:39 amThe Bloomberg editors claim Ted Cruz isn’t a courageous conservative. They say the proof is that he won’t stand up to the base and tell them America needs 11 million illegal immigrants, that climate change is real, that we can’t balance the budget, and that Common Core and gun restrictions are good. The editors conclude by acknowledging that Ted Cruz has opposed every one of these policies “with distinction – indeed, to a fault.”
Thus, to the East Coast media like Bloomberg’s editors, if Cruz were really courageous then he would have gone to Washington and changed his position on every issue. Note to the media: Real courage is sticking to your principles, as Cruz has done “to a fault.”
DRJ (1dff03) — 8/19/2015 @ 9:42 amTrump has succeeded in getting positions discussed publicly that no other politician has been able to do. Cruz and others may hold similar positions but they have not gotten the ink Trump has. He has been important to this election cycle for that reason. I hope he stays in longer.
Jim (a9b7c7) — 8/19/2015 @ 9:44 amFYI – Climate change is real – just that the science supporting AGW is weak.
Like the object the comprises 99.9% of the mass of our solar system has nothing to do with climate change.
Joe from Texas (debac0) — 8/19/2015 @ 9:46 amYou’re a conservative who is tired of watching Republicans march off to Washington and stab you in the back the second they get there.
I’m a reactionary who is tired of watching conservatives entrench and extend progressive victories.
Scrutineer (b7d257) — 8/19/2015 @ 10:03 amAmen. It makes me sad that so many people I thought were smart have embraced the anti-intellectual argument that being a professional politician means you are a perpetually purchased puppet, and that any schmoe off the street can be a better Commander-In-Chief.
L.N.Smithee (e750c1) — 8/19/2015 @ 10:10 amThey say the proof is that he won’t stand up to the base
That’s so idiotic it defies logic and reality. In effect, the folks at Bloomberg, a company owned by the epitome of a limousine liberal, say that in order for Cruz to be courageous, he has to be a foolish liberal or super squish-squish.
Such nonsense can be exchanged and treated seriously among those in the cocktail circuit in Manhattan due to a high percentage of such people being similar to Michael Bloomberg (ie, a latte liberal) and deeming the very candid, clear-cut labeling of people’s ideological biases as a sign of poor taste or rudeness and something best avoided in public.
Mark (24da9b) — 8/19/2015 @ 10:12 amDRJ: by their own definition, a courageous Democrat should be able to discuss the serious scientific flaws in anthropogenic global warming data, how Common Core dumbs down the curriculum in many states, and how gun control costs lives and has been used as a tool of oppression in living memory.
Of course, they don’t, which just shows that their definition of a “courageous Republican” is someone who stabs their own party in the back.
bridget (d90803) — 8/19/2015 @ 10:14 amWho says they’ll be willing? They never had to send money to Trump.
The only way that Cruz is guaranteed any financial windfall if/when Trump screws up is if Trump gets the ball rolling by dropping a few mil on Ted. However, I have a hard time believing Trump will do that unless he gets some sort quid pro quo out of Cruz, which makes me sick.
L.N.Smithee (e750c1) — 8/19/2015 @ 10:17 amAnd Bloomberg, who hired these editors, is considered a “good” mayor. These are the sorts of people who burn women at stakes and throw virgins off cliffs when public opinion starts to turn against them. We like to think these horrific episodes are historical artifacts, but they are much more the norm. This streak of human insanity is certainly more predictable than what passes as climate.
Speaking of climate, we may get two crops figs this year in the Puget Sound region. The same AGW enthusiasts who reject historical records in Europe on the basis of Mann’s hockey hoax, will no doubt seize on this as confirmation of their beliefs.
bobathome (4a2679) — 8/19/2015 @ 10:21 amCareful what you wish for! If Trump was out of the race MSM would be giving Cruz the Sarah Palin treatment – big time. We’d be seeing a full-court press with pundits, TV comics, reporters, and talking heads all mocking Ted Cruz, his wife, his children, doing interviews with any relatives still in Cuba,claiming he said he could see Calgary from Kansas on a clear day. So, get off Trump’s case, let the big dog eat. As long as Trump is leading the pack let’s cheer him on. And, if he can hold on and win the GOP nomination, let’s back him all the way – he’ll have earned it.
If Trump falters, Ted Cruz is tan, rested, and ready. And he’ll get my full support.
ropelight (32d7c4) — 8/19/2015 @ 10:33 ambobathome, how’s the wild blackberry crop this year?
ropelight (32d7c4) — 8/19/2015 @ 10:35 amIt makes me sad that so many people I thought were smart have embraced the anti-intellectual argument that being a professional politician means you are a perpetually purchased puppet, and that any schmoe off the street can be a better Commander-In-Chief.
L.N.Smithee (e750c1) — 8/19/2015 @ 10:10 am
I do not consider myself an anti-intellectual, nor am I a supporter of Trump (though I think he has over all added to things so far)
MD in Philly (f9371b) — 8/19/2015 @ 10:36 ambut,
examples of professional politicians who stick to the ideas they campaigned on among the little people seem scarcer than trophy-size jackalopes. Look at the number of people we thought were going to shake up things in DC who voted to keep Boehner and McConnell, for starters, and then went along with the chromnibus.
Mr. Smithee, I think you are overstating the case. Us anti-intellectuals believe
but only in a conditional sense.
The odds are good that “any schmoe” would be better than our current CIC. Such “schmoes” are likely to have some interest in the welfare of their families and friends, and this would lead to actions that were intended to be beneficial. Simply trying to do the right thing would occasionally result in a success. We now know that always trying to do the wrong thing never results in success. Appointing Hagel, Kerry and Clinton were certainly clues about his intentions.
bobathome (4a2679) — 8/19/2015 @ 10:37 amropelight (32d7c4) — 8/19/2015 @ 10:33 am
MD in Philly (f9371b) — 8/19/2015 @ 10:37 amGood point.
probably not planned that way by Trump,
but seems to be a reality
True, if my cat was CIC we would have defensive missiles in Poland and a fleet of F-22’s.
MD in Philly (f9371b) — 8/19/2015 @ 10:39 amThis is an argument that I have made for some time.
Ted Crux is in the ring, he has been throwing punches since 2013 in favor of conservative values, he has been punched, yet he remain resolute and relentless.
It is easy for outsiders to shout from the audience, but we don’t need campaign conservatives.
This is an interesting article:
“The 20 Times Trump Has Changed His Mind Since June”
Mike Wiley (28a693) — 8/19/2015 @ 10:39 amhttp://www.washingtonpost.com/news/post-politics/wp/2015/08/17/20-times-donald-trump-has-changed-his-mind-since-june/
#34 Spelling: Cruz not “Crux”
Mike Wiley (28a693) — 8/19/2015 @ 10:40 amJoe from Texas 21,
Thanks for the correction because my summary of the Bloomberg editorial was lacking. I should have said “man-made climate change” because that’s what the editorial actually said Cruz should support:
bridget,
Well said. It would be nice to see some bipartisan intellectual consistency by the media.
DRJ (1dff03) — 8/19/2015 @ 10:43 amThe real opportunity for Ted will come as the field of 17 dwindles down to a handful or less.
Donald Trump has spent a great deal of time bashing any of the other candidates who criticize him on policy. He also spends a lot of time bashing the other candidates who don’t take issue with his statements.
The cost has been Trump having one of the lowest favorability margins (+4%) of all the candidates. By contrast, Ted Cruz has one of the highest favorability margins (+24%) of all the candidates. As candidates drop off, their supporters are more likely to go to Ted.
Mike Wiley (28a693) — 8/19/2015 @ 10:47 amRopelight, the blackberries are, as always, vigorous, drought tolerant, and they provide a nice dessert for the deer that enjoy eating our figs, fuchsias, roses, apples, plums, and pretty much any new growth. Deer- and bird netting are the answer for the four legged problem, but the blackberries are a never ending problem. It’s the reason we have some pretty large lawns. The riding mower knows how to deal with blackberries. It’s our gardens that require the most effort to halt the black berry invasion.
bobathome (4a2679) — 8/19/2015 @ 10:49 amTrump has shown over the better part of 40 years while he’s mastered the art of angry populism, it’s usually in favor of positions where polling numbers have already shows significant public support. He’s very good at jumping onto the bandwagon and immediately making his way to the head of the float with statements that are guaranteed to attract attention.
Cruz can turn a phrase to attract attention, too, but he’s also showed the willingness to fight against the ‘go along to get along’ mindset in Washington. Trump hasn’t been in D.C. yet, but in New York, he’s unapologetic about going along to get along with the Democratic leaders of the city, because he tells people that’s how you have to do business.
It doesn’t inspire confidence when that’s your strategy, because when the time comes that you face an issue where you have to spend political capital to get what you want done, versus caving into conventional wisdom and maintaining your popularity, you really don’t want someone to choose the latter option. That would be a recipe for a President Trump following the path of Arnold Schwarzenegger in California, where all the bluster disappeared after he lost his school reform fight, and he opted to govern by poll numbers the rest of the way.
John (a4c2a4) — 8/19/2015 @ 10:50 amOur current CIC is NOT on the ballot. Trying to find someone who would be a better POTUS than Obama ISN’T difficult. Yet, some people are convinced that the problem with Obama and Hillary is not that they’re wrong, but that they’re politicians. Ergo, in order to get better results we must purge politicians from the White House. Hillary is a politician. Jeb is a politician. They must be stopped. What, Ted Cruz? Scott Walker? They’re politicians too! Begone!
Bring me the bombastic billionaire who’s gone bankrupt several times! Bring me the CEO who has lost the only two elections she’s been in despite outspending her opponents! Bring me the brain surgeon who thinks being Leader of The Free World is nothing after having separated Siamese twins!
L.N.Smithee (e750c1) — 8/19/2015 @ 10:57 amOK, Smithee, we know who you’re against, but who are you for?
ropelight (32d7c4) — 8/19/2015 @ 11:00 amGood point, John. Trump has even bragged that he buys politicians for access and to get them to do what he wants. I doubt he will change how he operates just because he moves from NYC to DC.
DRJ (1dff03) — 8/19/2015 @ 11:04 amTHANK YOU! That’s what I’ve been trying to tell people, especially the ones who parrot “Trump can’t be bought, Trump can’t be bought (whistle)”! And leading the parade for Schwarzenegger was the same dude who’s doing it today for Trump: Sean Hannity. Day after day after day, he beat the drum for Ahnuld, saying that we could trust him because he was a Milton Friedman fiscal conservative who wasn’t for gay marriage. Hannity said he liked Tom McClintock, the only authentic conservative running, but that he couldn’t win (despite a USA Today poll saying otherwise).
We in California remember how things turned out. Hannity has conveniently forgotten (or, he doesn’t really care).
L.N.Smithee (e750c1) — 8/19/2015 @ 11:07 amTrump’s latest purchase: Jeff Sessions.
Yeah, I know what you’re thinking: “Are you saying Trump paid Sessions off?” No, not necessarily, in a monetary fashion. But Sessions isn’t running for POTUS, nor is he stating on a national scale the philosophy that has been magnified through Trump onto the front pages all over the world. In Trump’s world, he doesn’t owe Sessions for that, Sessions owes him.
Seriously. If Trump goes too far in some fashion and Sessions distances himself, count on Trump whining about Sessions’ disloyalty after he made him world famous, or something.
L.N.Smithee (e750c1) — 8/19/2015 @ 11:14 amI feel pretty much the same way here. The problem is he’s managed to suck almost all the oxygen from the room by saying things that is not only causing heads to asplode on the left in record numbers, but hes also managed to irritate the hell out of the so-called establishment GOP. That has a frank appeal that none of the other candidates have yet. I have no idea who the best candidate should be, although Cruz is by far the most appealing to me.
At this point, all I know for sure is I don’t want a Bush the 3rd. We don’t need a dynasty of limitless government tagged as “compassionate conservatism”.
Bill H (2a858c) — 8/19/2015 @ 11:19 amThe more principled, the more conservative, the more articulate, the better. And it MUST be someone who’s been in government before. No rank amateurs in the Oval Office. I don’t want the next President to lack one of those four criteria.
L.N.Smithee (e750c1) — 8/19/2015 @ 11:19 amit’s Mr. Walker I said and I said what I meant cause a happyfeet’s faithful one-hundred percent
happyfeet (a037ad) — 8/19/2015 @ 11:25 am#46, How about someone who can win? I’m sick and tired of voting for so-called Republicans who roll over and start stabbing conservatives in the back soon after arriving in Washington DC. Which is something we’ve seen too much of ever since Ronald Reagan left office. The hell with career politicians, they’re the ones who got us into the mess we’re in. The hell with them. Been there, done that, bought the T shirt.
Truth is I’d vote for Beelzebub,if it would keep a Democrat, any Democrat out of the White House.
ropelight (32d7c4) — 8/19/2015 @ 11:35 amWalker opposes SSM and abortion, even if the mother’s life is in danger. I’m not criticizing those positions but I thought disagreed, happyfeet. Does Walker’s position on those issues bother you or are they not important enough for you to care?
DRJ (1dff03) — 8/19/2015 @ 11:39 am#46, How about someone who can win? I’m sick and tired of voting for so-called Republicans who roll over and start stabbing conservatives in the back soon after arriving in Washington DC. Which is something we’ve seen too much of ever since Ronald Reagan left office. The hell with career politicians, they’re the ones who got us into the mess we’re in. The hell with them. Been there, done that, bought the T shirt.
Truth is I’d vote for Beelzebub,if it would keep a Democrat, any Democrat out of the White House.
ropelight (32d7c4) — 8/19/2015 @ 11:35 am
Go to #43 and read my link about Schwarzenegger and former State Sen. Abel Maldonado, the RINO who drove the final nail in the coffin of the California Republican Party for his personal ambition (and ended up losing anyway).
L.N.Smithee (e750c1) — 8/19/2015 @ 11:47 amNo need, I lived it. Ended up leaving California for Sunny SW Florida.
ropelight (32d7c4) — 8/19/2015 @ 11:56 amOK. Fair enough, but why? Perhaps I’ve mistaken you to some extent, but you seem much more a libertarian than Walker.
Bill H (2a858c) — 8/19/2015 @ 11:59 amIt is a beautiful thing watching these people cry about Trump and then blame the people that like him, because Team rino could not field a single A team.. LMAO.
mg (31009b) — 8/19/2015 @ 12:05 pmThis article ignores the fact that Jeff Sessions & Charles Grassley are helping Donald Trump. Why should they assist a Springer freak running a clown car campaign? They’re serious men & experienced politicians who know chicken s–t from chicken salad.
This article ignores the fact that Ted Cruz himself has quietly met with Donald Trump. The subject of the meeting is not known. What is known is that Cruz does not attack Trump but praises him. Cruz does not attack Trump supporters but praises them. Why should he assist a Springer freak running a clown car campaign which offers up senseless promises to idiots? Cruz is a serious man & experienced politician who knows chicken s–t from chicken salad.
Ted Cruz is a good man, an excellent man. He has taken enormous abuse for his principles. How he endures the old lags & time-servers in the Senate I have no idea.
Maybe Trump supporters are not looking for perfect casting, a Presidential looking & sounding conservative Gregory Peck or Henry Fonda or Joseph Cotten or George Macready. Maybe for them the imperfect New York kind of guy Trump who loves his country is best placed to carry out the will of the American people & not Senator Cruz.
Ron Courson (aefdfe) — 8/19/2015 @ 12:10 pmTrump is more Bull Moose than republican but has been very shrewd in wrapping his mix of good and crazy ideas into compelling slogans – ie, make America great again. Cruz would do well to give us more Reagan-style optimism and less Goldwater-style problem definition.
Here’s hoping this century’s Bull Moose doesn’t destroy the party in order to save it.
crazy (cde091) — 8/19/2015 @ 12:24 pmc’mom, mg… is there a R candidate that has announced who does not stand head and shoulders above anybody the Democrats have or could possibly coax into running?
Certainly not in my estimation…
Colonel Haiku (2601c0) — 8/19/2015 @ 12:24 pmcarnival barkers
Colonel Haiku (2601c0) — 8/19/2015 @ 12:28 pmcircus clowns need not apply
just my opinion
They’re still better than a traitor, a commie, a real clown and a faux redskin.
Rev. Barack Hussein Hoagie (f4eb27) — 8/19/2015 @ 12:38 pmAlthough when one looks at what the democrat party has become those four are pretty damn representative.
Rev. Barack Hussein Hoagie (f4eb27) — 8/19/2015 @ 12:40 pmI didn’t realize supporting Planned Parenthood is a characteristic of a non-RINO Republican.
Gerald A (e1ec12) — 8/19/2015 @ 12:49 pmOK. Do you think that Trump can’t possibly do to the entire nation (which includes Florida) what Ahnuld did to California? I think it’s possible.
L.N.Smithee (e750c1) — 8/19/2015 @ 12:58 pmThe Democrats have an amazing talent for it, though, don’t they?
Steve57 (5a07a9) — 8/19/2015 @ 1:04 pmI am not a Trump guy. I have donated to Cruz. I like Rubio and Walker. WITH THAT SAID …
A POTUS who will burn this mutha fuckha down is more in need than some principled conservative who will struggle mightily with a cordial country club mindset. I am not sure Ted Cruz with power will do whatever it takes to destroy the Liberal Institutions feeding of the Govt Teet$. I think Trump will in some instances and that is what we need.
But I am not looking for a modest Conservative interested in dispassionate Harvard dialogue, I want someone who is going to raze the house down with the lunatics in it, make no apologies and build it better. And if that means mass protests by the Entitled Class, suicides in the faculty lounge at Harvard b/c they have been ruined and non-profits shutting down by the thousands b/c Govt Grants have dried up — Great NEWS!!! Add us sinking the Iranian Navy, all of it, and telling Russian and China if they want to die to try. We all lose but they will cease to exist b/c we will kill all of them. That is my man for POTUS — someone willing to fight even to the death to rturn things around.
Rodney King's Spirit (ab8c0d) — 8/19/2015 @ 1:13 pmMr. H you can’t let the perfect be the enemy of the good
and Mr. Governor Walker, he is very very good from what I’ve seen
he has a very substantive record unlike
everyone else
happyfeet (a037ad) — 8/19/2015 @ 1:16 pmI agree Cruz is the true conservative choice. The man is not only principled but brilliant. There are a couple of others I’d happily settle for as well.
With that out of the way, I can’t be too hard on Trump. Yes, he’s a showman and has no real convictions. On the upside, unlike Hillary he doesn’t appear to have a conviction in his future, either.
And he has performed a couple of valuable services.
http://acecomments.mu.nu/?post=358547
There were times during GWB’s “compassionate conservative” (liberalism lite) presidency I just threw up my hands and said, I can’t defend this guy. I also didn’t appreciate being called a racist by McCain because I opposed his amnesty plan. But that’s what the GOP gave me in 2008.
“Take a bite of this s*** sandwich,” the consultant class told me, “and like it.”
And I really, really don’t want to hear one more Republican (cough, cough, Jeb Bush, cough) talk about being able to work with Democrats.
That’s been the entire problem all along.
I want a candidate who will crush the Democrats and undo what they’ve done.
Trump isn’t the guy. But as ropelight said upthread right now he’s serving as the lightning rod for the guy who can. And for that he has my thanks. And I think Ted Cruz’s, too, which is why he isn’t attacking him either.
Steve57 (5a07a9) — 8/19/2015 @ 1:18 pm#61, L.N. Smithee asked: Do you think that Trump can’t possibly do to the entire nation (which includes Florida) what Ahnuld did to California? I think it’s possible.
Let’s look on the bright side, I see the glass as half full. Sure, Trump has a business background and hasn’t been a candidate for elected office so we really don’t know what he’ll do if he wins. All we have to go on is his stated intentions and those are expressed largely in the context of a primary election, and often in the presence of hostile interviewers.
So, I’m not trying to dodge the question, but I’m not about to assume that Trump will follow Arnold Schwarzenegger’s failed policies. The two are alike in terms of their lack of direct experience in electoral politics, but suggesting that one superficial similarity indicates a parallel path just isn’t a reasonable assumption. It’s a possibility, but it’s far from a probability, let alone any thing approaching even a likelihood.
ropelight (32d7c4) — 8/19/2015 @ 1:25 pmO/T, but this is important.
Guess what our vile anti-American, unregistered foreign agent for Iran preezy is up to?
http://acecomments.mu.nu/?post=358560
As I’ve been saying since President Prom Queen was candidate Prom Queen, it only wanted to become President of it’s enemies to help it’s friends.
It is certainly helping it’s friends in Tehran. Which was the whole point.
http://www.aawsat.net/2015/08/article55344710/opinion-the-iran-deal-a-fragile-arrangement
This isn’t a nuclear arms deal, it’s a betrayal.
I thought it might be important to mention that.
Hijack off.
Steve57 (5a07a9) — 8/19/2015 @ 1:30 pmOk, I lied. Anyone recall this blast from the past?
http://www.breitbart.com/national-security/2015/03/28/defecting-iranian-journalist-u-s-at-nuclear-talks-to-speak-on-irans-behalf/
Steve57 (5a07a9) — 8/19/2015 @ 1:36 pmThanks Steve, yes it’s all true. And, in a related O/T tease I recall reading that John Kerry’s daughter is married to the son of Iran’s chief negotiator…kinda cozy huh?
ropelight (32d7c4) — 8/19/2015 @ 1:39 pmActually, ropelight, as I recall she isn’t married to him. He was the best man at her wedding.
Steve57 (5a07a9) — 8/19/2015 @ 1:43 pmNeither the democrats nor the establishment RINOs want Cruz as a candidate. The manner in which he was marginalized at the first debate, while they gave more time to the likes of Bush, Trump, Christie and Huckabee – particularly on the question of Obamacare, is a strong indication of the effort to limit Cruz’s exposure. (Cruz filibustered Obamacare, yet they ignore him when discussing obamacare in the debate?)
I would love to see a Cruz/Walker, a Cruz/Carson or a Cruz/Jindal ticket. Lost all interest in Fiorina after reading her ridiculously pro-muslim speeches. Kasich is being thrown out there as a potential running mate with Jeb, who will have no chance if the RINOs force him on us. Christie is past his due date. Paul is crashing and has no chance. Still mistrustful of Rubio’s amnesty stance.
What is amazing is the willful, petty denial by the establishment GOP of the blatantly obvious fact that a majority of Americans want the damned border secured FIRST, and don’t want to have the nation go further into debt to provide welfare, foodstamps, housing and free medical care to illegal aliens. I am not a Trump supporter (since he isn’t really conservative) but I am surprisingly pleased with the manner in which he has smashed the media/political elite mantra that Americans want to have another wave of illegal alien amnesty.
Pete (ceb4bf) — 8/19/2015 @ 1:43 pmTrump has been very useful to the Conservative cause. Only the RINOs are upset over it.
Rodney King's Spirit (ab8c0d) — 8/19/2015 @ 1:49 pmWhat I meant that the rumor was Zarif’s son was best man. It isn’t true. It seemed plausible at the time as Kerry and Zarif do go way back from their meetings at Davos.
Steve57 (5a07a9) — 8/19/2015 @ 1:50 pmSteve, yes, you are correct, Kerry’s daughter married an Iranian/American and Mohammad Javad Zarif’s son was best man. Zarif Sr was Iran’s chief negotiator.
John Kerry has known Zarif since before Obama took office. The following is from Allen West’s web site:
ropelight (32d7c4) — 8/19/2015 @ 2:00 pmO/T again. Time for a new PP video thread.
http://legalinsurrection.com/2015/08/video-testimony-planned-parenthood-harvests-brain-from-baby-who-survived-abortion/#more
Steve57 (5a07a9) — 8/19/2015 @ 2:05 pmPP, though, thinks it’s “kinda cool” to experiment on a fetus with a discernible heartbeat.
Steve57 (5a07a9) — 8/19/2015 @ 2:08 pmThey will all burn in hell. Meanwhile, some hoosegow time on earth would be good.
Gazzer (feaf20) — 8/19/2015 @ 2:10 pmSteve, I’m up for examining PP’s latest outrage. This is beyond inhuman, it’s beyond barbaric, it’s beyond depraved.
But, before we change topics I have to note that Zarif’s son was not best man. I missed the mark on 2 counts.
ropelight (32d7c4) — 8/19/2015 @ 2:13 pmDon’t fear the reaper.
AZ Bob (524cba) — 8/19/2015 @ 2:19 pmYes, ropelight.
Also, be ready. At the 6 minute mark they show a
fetusbaby, I don’t know how old. the baby is lying in a metal tray. And it’s left leg is moving.This is what PP and the abortion enthusiasts call a “clump of cells” or a “mass of tissue.”
Bastards.
And they tell me I can’t talk about it because I don’t have a uterus.
Well, I do have a brain and a heart. Which is what PP is selling when they carve up infants of both sexes. So screw them.
Steve57 (5a07a9) — 8/19/2015 @ 2:25 pmOver at Instapundit, the commenters would just say that Patterico says this because he secretly supports Boooosh.
Kevin M (25bbee) — 8/19/2015 @ 2:55 pmThat’s one reason I never read the comments at Instapundit. I just read the posts and follow the links.
Steve57 (5a07a9) — 8/19/2015 @ 3:02 pmSteve,
The word you are looking for is “vivisection.”
Kevin M (25bbee) — 8/19/2015 @ 3:03 pmPersonally, I think Trump is the first presidential Moby. He’s a left-wing troll who pretends to be a Republican to exacerbate divisions within Republicans and to drive the discussion to the most extreme positions possible.
He’s doing quite well at it, too.
Kevin M (25bbee) — 8/19/2015 @ 3:10 pm*Sigh*
Here’s a good way to tell who’s really paying attention, and who isn’t: The people who think being anti-Trump means you’re a RINO aren’t. He’s the touchstone of conservatism used by the woefully ill-informed.
L.N.Smithee (e750c1) — 8/19/2015 @ 3:15 pmIf anyone is keeping track of whether Patterico participants object to “O/T” divergences from the topic of the thread, put me down as a “YES!”
L.N.Smithee (e750c1) — 8/19/2015 @ 3:17 pmWhat’s left to be said about Ted Cruz?
Steve57 (5a07a9) — 8/19/2015 @ 3:25 pmIn any case I was flagging items that deserve new threads IMHO. Saying Ted Cruz is the true conservative choice is kind of like saying the sun rises in the east or it rains a lot in Seattle.
How much conversation can there be?
Steve57 (5a07a9) — 8/19/2015 @ 3:28 pmApparently the public disagrees with your assessment of Cruz. While I do like
him for various reasons, they’re a few things that have put me off about him
besides that he hasn’t gotten much traction in the polls.
I don’t like his ponderous and pretentious seeming delivery. When he’s on the
road, he’s not in the Senate where things move slowly and speaking to them
demands that you pause often for emphasis and for the older ones to catch up.
Next is that he’s played some games in the Senate. Saying he’s going to do one
thing and then vote against it next or vice versa. Granted he’s been harsh on
Turtle Face but that could be a ploy to make him look good while he toes the
establishment line. And that’s the thing. Heard a lot of talk how he’s anti
this and anti that but seems he winds up on the establishment side in most votes.
He needs to get louder act like he’s running and quit trying to straddle the
fence in case he loses.
Trump is probably going to run right over him. Which is why he went to Trump
pretty quickly. I give Cruz this, he’s politically savvy. But in a self serving
way IMO.
We’ll see if he’s really got the fire and is willing to commit.
jakee308 (c37f85) — 8/19/2015 @ 3:33 pmApparently Kerry only revealed his daughter’s marriage to an Iranian-American once he had taken over as Secretary of State. But the subject never came up in his Senate confirmation hearing, either because Kerry never disclosed it, or because his former colleagues were “too polite” to bring it up.
That’s very interesting. I didn’t know that.
Mike K (90dfdc) — 8/19/2015 @ 4:08 pmMike K,
I think subsequent comments said the story about Kerry’s daughter isn’t true.
DRJ (1dff03) — 8/19/2015 @ 4:13 pmThe part about Zaif’s son attending her wedding isn’t true. Apparently she is married to an Iranian-American physician, a fact that the link says was published by the Iranian government during Kerry’s confirmation hearings.
DRJ (1dff03) — 8/19/2015 @ 4:17 pmDRJ, please see comment #72.
Steve57 (5a07a9) — 8/19/2015 @ 4:26 pmI know a couple of Iranian-American physicians and their wives and children. One of them served in the Iranian army during the Iran-Iraq war and knows how to treat anthrax in a field hospital.
nk (dbc370) — 8/19/2015 @ 4:26 pmSorry, L.N. Smithee, but this is par for the course around here.
nk (dbc370) — 8/19/2015 @ 4:27 pmSteve57,
I saw your comment and I think it’s consistent with what I said to Mike K. Did I misunderstand something?
DRJ (1dff03) — 8/19/2015 @ 4:29 pmL.N.,
I sympathize. I’m game to discuss Ted Cruz all the time but that won’t fly around here.
DRJ (1dff03) — 8/19/2015 @ 4:31 pmI have been racking my brain trying to come up with something new to say about either Cruz or Trump.
I just don’t have anything.
Steve57 (5a07a9) — 8/19/2015 @ 4:31 pmIt’s just that it seemed to go unnoticed by others, that I had called it an untrue internet rumor.
I thought you might have missed it as well. After all, it’s not one of my infamous wall o’text comments.
Steve57 (5a07a9) — 8/19/2015 @ 4:33 pmAs for Cruz being the true conservative choice, Walker is ahead of him and Santorum a furlong ahead of Walker. But if Santorum could be elected nationally, we wouldn’t need him.
nk (dbc370) — 8/19/2015 @ 4:51 pmTed was very popular when he visited my area Far west TN, and he drew significant crowds across the state
EPWJ (40a153) — 8/19/2015 @ 5:02 pmAny fool who thinks Trump is to the Right of a RINO needs a serious wake-up call. Trump isn’t even close to being Right enough to be a RINO. He’s very easily to the Left of that line of demarcation. Calling people who dislike Trump a RINO, definitionally means the person dislikes Trump because Trump isn’t Conservative enough.
John Hitchcock (58f5f8) — 8/19/2015 @ 5:09 pmI’ll wait for more confirmation but I’ve seen it several places.
One place.
Iran is denying the negotiator’s son was best man.
And, of course, they would never lie.
Of course, if the husband turns out to be Bahai, it’s OK. I know Palestinian doctors but they are Christian.
Mike K (90dfdc) — 8/19/2015 @ 5:31 pmLet me be clear. I will vote for Cruz or Walker. The rest of the lot is a pile of lies with greed running through their veins. Although trump has team r in a tizzy, because they know their establishment hack will get less votes than mittens. Sorry Col. Boosh/and whatshisnamefromcleveland\2016
mg (31009b) — 8/19/2015 @ 5:40 pmKasich is from Worthington or Westerville, two relatively Conservative suburbs on the north side of Columbus.
John Hitchcock (58f5f8) — 8/19/2015 @ 5:56 pmAnd in fact, Trump is really the only RINO in the race.
A Real Republican would NEVER even contemplate running a campaign against the GOP. Someone who would, yet pretends to be a Republican is by any reasonable definition of the word, Republican-in-Name-Only.
Kevin M (25bbee) — 8/19/2015 @ 5:58 pmSeems like this notion Trump is the anti-RINO comes from a syllogism centered on the Republican establishment. The idea is:
This is a simple minded non-sequitur but for some people now the dreaded Republican establishment is their entire point of reference for thinking about candidates.
Gerald A (949d7d) — 8/19/2015 @ 6:00 pmIn Ohio, you have the most Leftist of Leftist Democrats, the most Conservative of Conservative Republicans and the squishiest of squishy squishes. The independents don’t usually pay much attention to politics and they tend to be wishy-washy Democrat-lites or Big Government Republicans in their voting patterns. That’s how we can have Ted Strickland for Governor one year and John Kasich the next. I would like to think Ohio can produce a Primary that brings in a Conservative winner in the state, but I would say that’s a 60-40 prospect.
John Hitchcock (58f5f8) — 8/19/2015 @ 6:00 pmKasish’s real problem is he tries to be on all sides of every issue. With Cruz you usually know which way he’ll jump.
Kevin M (25bbee) — 8/19/2015 @ 6:01 pmThis is a simple minded non-sequitur but for some people now the dreaded Republican establishment is their entire point of reference for thinking about candidates.
And, while I would welcome the joint resignation of Boehner, McConnell, Priebus and much of the RNC, I cannot shake the feeling that some of the anti-RiNOs are in fact Dems. “Let’s you and him fight!”
Kevin M (25bbee) — 8/19/2015 @ 6:03 pmKasich was good at being Budget Writer in the US House. Not so good at being a Conservative Governor. He has far too many bad ideas for that. Definitely too many bad ideas for even a 10 percent showing in a Primary with more than 2 Conservative choices.
John Hitchcock (58f5f8) — 8/19/2015 @ 6:05 pmOne of the Breitbart gaggle of commenters went over to Twitchy and called me a Liberal and wished death on me because I oppose Trump. Also used the term “c**kservative” (which I’m told I don’t even want to look up) in reference to me.
John Hitchcock (58f5f8) — 8/19/2015 @ 6:07 pmRaul be gone
mg (31009b) — 8/19/2015 @ 6:10 pmself destructing Perry
Walker slipping
backers be bailing
billionaires logic
Trust Ted
I’ve got something to share that’s off-topic: I hope that Dustin and his wife are finding some comfort in their faith and the knowledge that their young son is with a loving and merciful Lord. Best wishes go out to both of them.
Colonel Haiku (2601c0) — 8/19/2015 @ 6:20 pmWow. Prayers and sympathy to Dustin and his wife.
Gerald A (949d7d) — 8/19/2015 @ 6:25 pmgood one, Col.@113
mg (31009b) — 8/19/2015 @ 6:26 pmWhat does this mean? What are you talking about?
Patterico (3cc0c1) — 8/19/2015 @ 7:26 pmNever mind, I have had it explained to me. I missed that when he said it.
Patterico (3cc0c1) — 8/19/2015 @ 7:41 pmjust pump up Cruz, don’t bash Trump … if Cruz is better it will shine thru, if not all the Trump bashing in the world won’t elevate Cruz … plus it makes you look desperate …
KaiserDerden (32462c) — 8/19/2015 @ 7:54 pmBut I don’t like Trump. So I feel like bashing him.
Patterico (3cc0c1) — 8/19/2015 @ 8:00 pmI love the pretentious comments about how you are an idiot or stupid or naive or blah, blah, blah if you don’ hate Trump because the commenter is a TRUE conservative and knows best … guess what, all you TRUE conservatives … the primary is for the GOP nomination, not the TRUE conservative nomination … morons … Trumps the guy that gets your promotion, bangs your wife and your dog prefers him because he knows how to win … for most of you the biggest risk you’ve ever taken is getting a latte at Starbucks …
KaiserDerden (32462c) — 8/19/2015 @ 8:02 pmand how does that help Cruz ? it doesn’t but I guess that doesn’t matter … good luck with that …
KaiserDerden (32462c) — 8/19/2015 @ 8:04 pmPlus he’s classy! And luxurious!
Patterico (3cc0c1) — 8/19/2015 @ 8:17 pmTrump’s the guy who finds a sports score book from the future and owns everything when you get back to 1985.
Kevin M (25bbee) — 8/19/2015 @ 8:24 pmHe is what Putin would call nekulturny.
Kevin M (25bbee) — 8/19/2015 @ 8:25 pmA lot of projection in comment #120… unintended, I’m certain.
Colonel Haiku (2601c0) — 8/19/2015 @ 8:31 pmBut I don’t like Trump. So I feel like bashing him.
I’m suspicious of Trump but I’m just as suspicious of Republicans like Jeb Bush and consider W. Bush’s brother as tone deaf and clueless. Trump at least — perhaps because he is, as you call him, a blowhard — is willing to slam the media. For example, I chortled when he told CNN’s Anderson Cooper how lowly rated the MSM is in opinion polls. I can’t imagine Republicans like Bush being quite so forward.
Such outspokenness or plain-speak really shouldn’t be a big deal in today’s era of anything-goes. But candor in 2015 often is limited to socio-sexual matters and not political-ideological ones. Moreover, I don’t know if Trump would have attended the recent National Urban League meeting, as Jeb Bush did, and mouthed the type of platitudes favored by Jeb, chock full of political correctness and racial sweet nothings.
Simply put, I want to see Jeb Bush tossed out before Donald Trump.
Mark (c64037) — 8/19/2015 @ 9:12 pmBoth must go.
Patterico (3cc0c1) — 8/19/2015 @ 9:27 pmIf Ted can get Adelson and Wynn money, then capture Trumps voters after Trump lets them down, The primary becomes all about conservative Ted. Jebby and his love affair with team r brethren can go over the cliff in that clown car called the GOP. Rubio jebby and kasich all have to fight for the rino voters.
mg (31009b) — 8/19/2015 @ 9:43 pmHillary seems to think her challenger is Rubio. I hope she continues to do so. Because, if Cruz is able to rise above the static he is the real deal.
Ag80 (eb6ffa) — 8/19/2015 @ 9:46 pmI heard Starbucks is lobbying for a liquor license. So you know… if you’re driving a latte might be dangerous.
papertiger (c2d6da) — 8/19/2015 @ 10:15 pmBoth must go.
But timing-wise, I want to see the namby-pamby, colorless, squish-squish Republican candidates get the heave-ho first and foremost.
From a purely tactical standpoint, Trump at least is helping light a fire under quite a few right-leaning folks, helping bring the spotlight to the Republicans instead of (at least when it comes to a positive light) bilge like Hillary or dreck like Barack (hello, Iran!!).
Mark (c64037) — 8/19/2015 @ 10:55 pmSome clown says the biggest risk someone who spent 13 weeks at Parris Island, SC and drives a big truck OTR 12 months a year is getting some fru-fru over-priced non-drink at some yuppie joint as the biggest risk? Clown don’t know me at all.
John Hitchcock (5b2181) — 8/20/2015 @ 6:00 amI never get a coffee with milk or cream in restaurants. Not since I got a bad case of the runs in Spain in 1975 which turned into Reiter’s Syndrome. You don’t know how long it’s been sitting there.
nk (dbc370) — 8/20/2015 @ 6:09 amoh my goodness now i have to google that
happyfeet (a037ad) — 8/20/2015 @ 6:11 amgod the 70s sucked
happyfeet (a037ad) — 8/20/2015 @ 6:11 amI heard Starbucks is lobbying for a liquor license.
i had a glass of wine at one in Portland
this one time at band camp
happyfeet (a037ad) — 8/20/2015 @ 6:12 amI never get a coffee with milk or cream in restaurants. Not since I got a bad case of the runs in Spain in 1975 which turned into Reiter’s Syndrome. You don’t know how long it’s been sitting there.
nk (dbc370) — 8/20/2015 @ 6:09 am
By any chance, did this incident happen in Pamplona?
Colonel Haiku (9e91a2) — 8/20/2015 @ 6:54 amTorremolinos. No bull; salmonella I think.
nk (dbc370) — 8/20/2015 @ 7:08 amIf you’re talking milk, it’s definitely no bull.
John Hitchcock (5b2181) — 8/20/2015 @ 7:14 amhah you made a funny
happyfeet (7b1a9e) — 8/20/2015 @ 7:20 amFunny… I knew a guy back in New York by the name of Sal Monella.
Colonel Haiku (9e91a2) — 8/20/2015 @ 7:20 amHaiku, thank you for the kind words. We’re doing better and my wife has returned to work and her great friends there. Still a cruel blow that I doubt I’ll ever honestly accept, but such hardship is part of life.
Dustin (2a8be7) — 8/20/2015 @ 7:29 amMy prayers are with you & your family, Dustin.
Beldar (fa637a) — 8/20/2015 @ 7:57 ammark: Donald Trump’s candidacy is designed to promote the value of the “Trump Brand.” He can’t get the GOP nomination, because more than half of GOP voters say they won’t vote for him in the primary no matter what. He has no realistic shot at winning as a third-party candidate. But he could put Hillary in the White House with a third-party run that denies the GOP key swing states, and in the meantime, his presence in the GOP race is helping Jeb Bush more than anyone else by soaking up attention and oxygen from other less-well-known alternatives.
Beldar (fa637a) — 8/20/2015 @ 8:00 amhis presence in the GOP race is helping Jeb Bush more than anyone else
Beldar, based on recent polling data, Jeb Bush is dropping, whether due to or in spite of the presence of Trump.
If the notion (sickening though it is) that Hillary! being elected to the presidency in 2015 is a given, then the notion that W. Bush’s brother will lose in 2015 is a given, certainly in my mind.
Mark (65a3a7) — 8/20/2015 @ 8:17 amMark, you’re voting in the wrong country’s Presidential elections. We have ours the same year as the Summer Olympics and the same year that has an extra day in February.
//
John Hitchcock (5b2181) — 8/20/2015 @ 9:01 amTry sitting on a school board with principle, and see if you can get anything done. Problem is, you need support to get stuff done.
What if Cruz is the better man, the better candidate with the most possible fidelity to principle? What if that equates to him getting into office, and for whatever reason, he can’t get much done?
Would you rather have The Donald get into office, and accomplish a decent portion of what conservatives would like to see happen in this country? Or would you rather have Cruz in office, and see him fight the good fight day after day and not accomplish very much? Because that’s how committed leftists see Obama’s presidency.
Ideally, I’d agree with you that the best man for the job is Cruz. But I don’t think he’s going to appeal to those that aren’t already committed to voting Democrat or Republican as much as Trump.
So perfect candidate that might not make it happen due to how polarizing he is? Or candidate who will make it happen on many, but not all conservative issues?
Ralph Nadar and Ron Paul are great guys who live their principles, but neither one of them could make it happen.
That’s why I agree with another poster: Keep pointing out Cruz’s merits, but be glad for Trump because he can beat the Democrat nominee.
school Marm (e30dcc) — 8/20/2015 @ 4:37 pmHA HA HA HA HA!
Hey…wait a minute…ruh-roh.
L.N. Smithee (e750c1) — 8/21/2015 @ 10:56 am