Bob Dole really, really doesn’t like Ted Cruz

The Washington Post's The Fix ^ | December 8, 2015 | Chris Cillizza

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On MSNBC's "Andrea Mitchell Reports" Tuesday, the veteran anchor sat down with former Senate majority leader and 1996 Republican presidential nominee Bob Dole to talk, ostensibly, about the current state of his party and the rise of Donald Trump. But the Kansas Republican had something else on his mind. And that something else was how much he dislikes Texas Sen. Ted Cruz.

In a question about what Dole makes of Trump, the former Senate leader quickly turned matters to Cruz. "He's not traditional Republican conservative," Dole said of the Texan. "Achievements are shutting down the government twice, and calling the Republican leader, Mitch McConnell, a liar on the Senate floor. It violates the rules of the Senate. And he doesn't have a single Senate supporter."

Later, Mitchell probed as to whether Dole could or would vote for Trump next November. Dole said he would because he can't bring himself to vote for Hillary Clinton. Then she asked about Cruz, and Dole joked, "I might oversleep that day," before adding: " 'Cause he used to make these speeches. 'Remember President Dole, do you remember President McCain.' The inference was that we were all a bunch of liberals, and only he is a true conservative. And he uses the word 'conservative' more than he ever uses the word 'Republican.' So, it would be difficult." (continued)

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Bob Dole’s opinion is about as relevant as Nelson Rockefeller’s would be if Rockefeller were still alive. This will either have no impact or will actually help Cruz, since people either give Dole absolutely no thought or remember him as one of the most pathetic excuses for a Republican nominee that we’ve had.