Time to unite behind Cruz?

[Crockett]

It might be the only possible way to derail the Trump Express. But I think the Republican Party would be more likely to win in November with Trump, because Cruz isn't especially popular in swing states.
Here is the way one analyst sees it. http://theweek.com/articles/609746/gop-crowns-ted-cruz-antitrump-electoral-peril

 

[huisache]

uniting behind Cruz is the way to go if the idea of a Christian Caliphate is to your taste.

 

[Htown77]

uniting behind Cruz is the way to go if the idea of a Christian Caliphate is to your

Because he is against gay marriage which was illegal for almost the entire country until less than a year ago?

The majority of Texans oppose gay marriage. It's hardly an extremist view.

Really a minority of out of state extremists, that barely made up a majority of the court, disregarded the constitution and imposed their radical views on the majority of Texans.

 

[texas_ex2000]

uniting behind Cruz is the way to go if the idea of a Christian Caliphate is to your taste.

Here's what I've Cruz say about "social issues."

Gay marriage - he believes in the traditional definition of marriage, but regardless of what he personally feels, it should have been up to States to decide how marriage would be defined in their State. Issue isn't as important now because SCOTUS already ruled, and has said it's time for conservatives to move on. Conservative? Kind of...most people in Texas feel this way and probably the majority of people in swing states feel this way. Caliphate? No.

Religious freedom - believes that business owners should be able to choose who they do business with ("discriminate" if you're a liberal) based on religious views and the principal of freedom of association. He has used examples of gay and minority business owners harassed by customers as equally protected under this law. Conservative? Yes. Caliphate? No.

Carpet bomb ISIS - ISIS throws gay men off buildings and takes women as war sex slaves. Conservative? No Caliphate? I'm pretty sure ISIS wants a caliphate...so no.

Guns - He likes the 2nd Amendment...so do hundreds of millions of gun owning Americans. He also knows the difference between an assault rifle and a semi-automatic rifle. Conservative? I guess...if you've only lived in New York City. Caliphate? Caliphates usually are about oppression through authoritarianism - so no.

Abortion - He's pro-life, like 50% of the rest of the country - as in 50% of the country want to make abortion illegal. Conservative? I guess if you're pro-choice...yes. Caliphate? Just because murder is a crime doesn't mean you live in a caliphate.

Immigration - No amnesty, as in people who break laws cannot be allowed to be rewarded. Parents of all political persuasions get this. Conservative? If believing in law and sovereignty makes one conservative, I guess. Caliphate? Caliphates are bent on world domination and assimilating as many people as possible. Cruz wants illegal immigrants to leave. No.

 

[theiioftx]

I do not get the hate for Cruz. It seems to me he represents the people who sent him the DC, fights for the Constitution and refuses to go along with the party establishment.

 

[Garmel]

uniting behind Cruz is the way to go if the idea of a Christian Caliphate is to your taste.

 

[Sangre Naranjada]

Some people just have a visceral knee jerk hate reaction to Cruz. I understand. I have the same reaction to that worthless, soulless, power hungry c**t Hillary.

 

[Mr. Deez]

I do not get the hate for Cruz. It seems to me he represents the people who sent him the DC, fights for the Constitution and refuses to go along with the party establishment.

I get the hostility for Cruz. First, he's a bit of a grandstanding self-promoter. See the filibuster that wasn't really a filibuster and the government shutdown that he pushed without any sort of plan or strategy but made him household name at least among Republican primary voters.

Second, many don't think he can win a general election, because he comes across as a bit aloof and sanctimonious. There isn't a lot of warmth there. To be clear, that's not how he actually is. I've met Cruz a few times and introduced him before a speech once back when he was Solicitor General. He's a nice guy and reasonably genuine, but that doesn't come across well through a television set.

 

[Phil Elliott]

I want Cruz to be the nominee simply because I want to see what happens when the GOP runs a true conservative for POTUS. Just how many conservative voters do we have left in this country anymore?

 

[Htown77]

See thefilibuster that wasn't really a filibuster and the government shutdown that he pushed without any sort of plan or strategy but made him household name at least among Republican primary voters.

The whole reason he upset Dewhurst was that he promised to raise hell in Washington over Obamacare, like almost every tea party candidate did at the time. The difference is he is one of the few politicians that followed through on a campaign promise... which makes people's "he's not geninuine" reactions to him stranger. He said he would raise hell over obamacare. He is one of the few that actually followed through on a campaign promise.

Second, many don't think he can win a general election, because he comes across as a bit aloof and sanctimonious. There isn't a lot of warmth there. To be clear, that's not how he actually is. I've met Cruz a few times and introduced him before a speech once back when he was Solicitor General. He's a nice guy and reasonably genuine, but that doesn't come across well through a television set.

This is true. I met him in person twice and saw him speak both times. Once to a larger crowd in February 2013, and once to a smaller crowd in April of 2013. He said he what he was going to do between February and April. He did it. Then in April he said what he was going to do, and he did it. He is a fantastic speaker in person. However, it's true that he does not come across anywhere near as well on TV.

 

[Seattle Husker]

The whole reason he upset Dewhurst was that he promised to raise hell in Washington over Obamacare, like almost every tea party candidate did at the time. The difference is he is one of the few politicians that followed through on a campaign promise... which makes people's "he's not geninuine" reactions to him stranger. He said he would raise hell over obamacare. He is one of the few that actually followed through on a campaign promise.

Wait, Texas voters sent him to D.C. simply to "raise hell" without the expectation of accomplishing anything? Based on the evidence, he's actually further away from accomplishing anything meaningful in the Senate. If that's the bar for "success" for a Texas Senator then the Republican party may be in more trouble than anyone suspected.

 

[Htown77]

All you can do is keep voting for candidates that represent your views. Bernie Sanders has failed to bring about his radical change, but I do not think people in Vermont would describe him the way Seattle did. Texas liberals loved Wendy Davis for filibustering even though it did not accomplish anything.

Your single rep will not likely accomplish anything. However, you want someone representing your views whenever a key vote does happen. You dont want most republicans that pay lip service to conservative values and vote the other way. You dont want Rubio who is never there at all.

Cruz has been a success because I know what he stands for, I know he will do what he says he will do, and I know he'll vote for conservative Texan values. I also know he is not afraid to take a stand against a bad law, even if it's him alone and he pisses off either political party as I could care less about the republicans or democrats. I'll take that any day over someone that pays lip service to conservative values, then "gets something done" by voting for the opposite of what his constiuents want.

I do not think those we elect should be trustees. I think they should be representatives. What I care about is that whoever I vote for represents his constituents.

Also, until the republicans get 60 senators and a republican president, obamacare isnt going away, but republican reps and senators can obstruct in the meantime.

 

[Mr. Deez]

Wait, Texas voters sent him to D.C. simply to "raise hell" without the expectation of accomplishing anything? Based on the evidence, he's actually further away from accomplishing anything meaningful in the Senate. If that's the bar for "success" for a Texas Senator then the Republican party may be in more trouble than anyone suspected.

Make sure you distinguish between Texas voters and Texas primary voters. Texas voters elected Cruz because he has an R next to his name. The Texas Democratic Party is a dumpster fire. Their candidates never win and are rarely even taken seriously. The "R" makes all the difference, and if Dewhurst had won the primary, he would have won as well. Keep in mind that these same Texas voters elect John Cornyn and used to elect Kay Bailey Hutchison, both of whom are more constructive in their respective approaches than Cruz is.

Texas primary voters elected Cruz for a few reasons. First, yes, he promised to "raise hell" and do whatever he could to screw with the Administration. That kind of smack talk plays very well in Texas Republican primary circles, and a limp-wristed candyass like a Dewhurst just can't pull off that kind of outrage.

Second, Dewhurst was always an entitled emperor with no clothes, whom people wanted to see defeated. In all the time I was actively involved in Texas Republican politics, I never met a single person who affirmatively liked Dewhurst - literally not one. They didn't hate him, but they didn't like him. He had won previous races because he could self-fund to an absurd degree, and that scared the opposition off. (His first campaign for Land Commissioner was ridiculous - looked more like a presidential campaign - fancy bus with his name all over it, tons of TV adds, mailers, etc.) He got well-connected with the business lobby, but he didn't need money. He needed grassroots support, and he never developed that.

Ted Cruz was close enough to the money crowd not to be broke and to not have the party establishment actively fighting him, but his big asset was that he had an colossal army of grassroots supporters and connections developed over about a ten-year period. Conservative organizations adored the guy, and they were willing to bust their asses for him. He turned his army loose and did well enough to make the runoff. Keep in mind that in runoffs, only the most motivated people vote, and Cruz had extremely motivated people. That was enough to get the "R" by his name, which was enough to win.

 

[nashhorn]

because he comes across as a bit aloof and sanctimonious.

You mean like our current POTUS?

 

[chango]

Some people just have a visceral knee jerk hate reaction to Cruz. I understand. I have the same reaction to that worthless, soulless, power hungry **** Hillary.

This is exactly it. I understand how Sangre feels about Hillary -- because that is the way I feel about Cruz.

 

[Mr. Deez]

You mean like our current POTUS?

Actually I think the complete opposite is the truth. The current POTUS actually is aloof and sanctimonious, but can come across as genuine and friendly when he needs to. Cruz actually is genuine and friendly in real life but comes across as aloof and sanctimonious.

 

[huisache]

I like to listen to Cruz because he speaks coherently and intelligently, which is rare in the age of Clintons and Ws and the rest of this mewling herd of jerks. He is very smart and a very good lawyer.

But he is like most of us in that he picks his side and then finds a legal rationale for it. I am pro life and have talked a couple of women out of abortions. But if they want one anyway it is no business of mine or the herd of Texans who can't even get pregnant to say no.

The prejudice against abortion is based on religion and more specifically on extrapolations from prohibitions contained in the scriptures of stone age religions.

If we are a nation of individuals as opposed to a people who rest comfortably in what we were taught by some divine when we were impressionable kids then we need to acknowledge that grownups should be able to decide if they want to use contraceptives or get abortions. It is none of my business if the woman down the hall doesn't want to be pregnant.

And Cruz wants to transport us back to an 18th century literalism that the collaborators on the Constitution did not envision. Read the debates re the confirmation of the constitution and it is obvious to me at least that they intended for future generations to decide how to interpret the document; that is why so many phrases are so vague. Due Process, Interstate Commerce, etc.

Until Scalia and Graglia and Cruz emerged from the swamps it was accepted that the Constitution would be re interpreted. Theirs is a respectable method of interpretation but it leads to a religious orientation and from one.

I was raised Catholic, as were all the non jews on the Supreme Court and I know where that type of thinking leads. That a bunch of snake handling protestants think the same way is little consolation to me.

"Christian Caliphate" was an example of rhetorical hyperbole, which Cruz would have recognized as such. It is a tool to emphasize by excess which has been used for centuries. Sorry if some thought I meant it literally.

 

[texas_ex2000]

BTW, I voted for Rubio. With Cruz, while he has improved his...I don't know what you would call it...personality/bedside manner, he's too confrontational for me. But his views are pretty much in step with most Texans, which is why he won his Senate seat.

 

[Seattle Husker]

Has anyone watched any videos of Cruz' father, an evangelist? Watch a few and you'll want to run away from Cruz. If you only listened to his father you'd believe that Ted is the second coming of JC and is the only one that can save Christianity.

 

[texas_ex2000]

The prejudice against abortion is based on religion and more specifically on extrapolations from prohibitions contained in the scriptures of stone age religions.

For me personally, religion has nothing to do with abortion.

Religion has everything to do with my view on same sex marriage...as a Catholic I view it as a sacrament between 1 man, 1 woman, and God. I fully understand that as a purely religious construct others justifiably do not have the same view just as they wouldn't with confession, baptism, no red meat on Fridays, etc. So my views on same sex marriage are much more politically middle of the road.

Abortion is pretty black and white. The first unalienable right cited in our founding document is Life. That's not a constitutional right - the Declaration of Independence was written before the Constitution. It is a natural right.

I also respect the complexity and nuances of the issue and advocate for a civil and practical path to reduce abortions as much as possible.

 

[Mr. Deez]

For me personally, religion has nothing to do with abortion.

Ditto. If I was a raging God-hating atheist, I'd actually be more militantly pro-life. Frankly, I'm surprised to see huisache make that old, tired ******** generalization. He's smarter than that.

 

[theiioftx]

Pretty sure his Dad is not running for office. And most dads will see their son as someone much better than they actually are.

I do not think Cruz is a perfect candidate and I do think he struggles with cameras. However, he has done what he said he would do despite the party consequences. This country desperately needs a return to representative government regardless which party it is. You will be hard pressed to find any nationally elected politician who has actually delivered on their campaign promises more than Cruz.

 

[BevoBeef]

Has anyone watched any videos of Cruz' father, an evangelist? Watch a few and you'll want to run away from Cruz. If you only listened to his father you'd believe that Ted is the second coming of JC and is the only one that can save Christianity.

I am missing something here? Are you saying that I should not vote for Cruz because his father is an evangelist or because his father believes something about him? Why should I care about something that his father believes or says?

i have listened to people who have eaten dinner next to the pair and nothing was said anything like that. [[ ... FYI, I did not vote for Cruz in this primary. ]]

Wait, Texas voters sent him to D.C. simply to "raise hell" without the expectation of accomplishing anything? Based on the evidence, he's actually further away from accomplishing anything meaningful in the Senate.

I am not from Texas originally, but have lived in this state for over 50 years. You are way out of touch from what Texas voters expect or believe about his Senate gyrations.

 

[Crockett]

 

[Joe Fan]

jeez

Maybe Dems will Xover to vote for Cruz now? (he must be starting to remind them of Bill Clinton)

 

[chango]

Have to give Senator Cruz credit... He was relaxed, personable, and even funny on Jimmy Kimmel's show last night.

 

[Musburger1]

Cruz is living out his dream.