Run, Ted run: The grassroots effort to draft Ted Cruz for president is underway

Washington Times ^ | Monday, March 24, 2014 | Jennifer Harper

[SoConPubbie]

It was inevitable.

As was the case with Ben Carson, a grassroots effort to draft Sen. Ted Cruz has been launched by those eager to see the Texas Republican and his plainspoken policy prepare for and enter the 2016 White House race. The earlybird political action committee founded by one Raz Shafer - a former Cruz staffer - is on message and succinct.

“It’s time for Americans to kick-start a national campaign to draft Ted Cruz. We can’t sit on the sidelines and allow a repeat of 2008 and 2012. That’s exactly what Hillary Clinton and the Democrats want us to do. It’s also what Chris Christie, Jeb Bush, and the rest of the Republican establishment wants,” Mr. Shafer notes in his outreach at, yes, RunTedRun.com which is careful not to appear as anything official.

Yet.

But the Fort Worth-based conservative is optimistic and eager, and of course there’s a public petition to sign.

“Our goal is to collect 1 million signed petitions this year to serve as the backbone of a campaign that will culminate with Ted Cruz taking the Oath of Office as the 45th President of the United States on January 20, 2017. It’s time for conservatives to be proud of their vote again,” they advise.

[deport]

It’s three years out.

******************

In less than three years the new president will be inaugurated in Jan. 2017.

In less than two years four states will have already held their nominating process:
Iowa, New Hampshire, South Carolina and Nevada

So it isn’t to early to begin getting preliminary plans together for organizations, etc.

[entropy12]

I was extremely impressed by Rand Paul’s ability to get standing ovations at both CPAC and UCBerkley crowd. No one else, either on left or right has been able to do that.

So the ability and skills to win in general are NOT the same for all candidates.

Does that mean Rand Paul is the best candidates for conservatives? Not necessarily. If Palin or Cruz can get elected president, without any doubt they will be the most effective president for conservative agenda. But that requires winning in general. With a loss, they will have no more power to change anything than Romney, McCain, Dole, Goldwater, et all.

[dadfly]

he’s on my short list. God bless him.

[deport]

Anyone interested here is a good site for info on the upcoming 2016 election schedule.

The Greenpapers--2016 Presidential Primaries, Caucuses, and Conventions Major Events Chronologically

[SoConPubbie]

Palin & Cruz will change the direction of country more than anyone else I can think of. Sadly both are vulnerable in the general.

The problem that those pushing Rand Paul refuse to acknowledge is that by his walking away from the Social issues and pushing an Amnesty plan, he is going to get creamed far worse than Mitt Romney.

Reagan started back 30% to Jimmy Carter and still won because he stuck to the conservative message.

Any viable conservative, and I don't include Rand Paul in that categorization because of the aforementioned policy positions, will have the same problem going forward.

Both the GOP-E, and the Left have it out for any true conservative.

It doesn't mean they can't win if they continually articulate conservatism and refuse to compromise, it just means it will be a tough road to victory.

[SoConPubbie]

The problem that those pushing Rand Paul refuse to acknowledge is that by his walking away from the Social issues and pushing an Amnesty plan, he is going to get creamed far worse than Mitt Romney.

And he will get creamed far worse than Mitt Romney, because he has come out so early, (though I respect this about Rand Paul and detest Mitt Romney for waiting till after being nominated) about walking away from the social issues and the natural base of the GOP is against this position or approach.

That issue, coupled with the Amnesty issue, will suppress the vote immensely.

[SoConPubbie]

I was extremely impressed by Rand Paul’s ability to get standing ovations at both CPAC and UCBerkley crowd. No one else, either on left or right has been able to do that.

Sorry, both venues were packed, artificially so, with Libertarians. Your impressions are skewed by this.

Furthermore, Ted Cruz does this routinely almost every place he shows up to speak.

[longfellow]

CRUZ/WEST!

[MarMema]

Yes it is.

[Mariner]

Other than Goldwater, when have we put up our best and lost?

Some would argue that nominating Goldwater as the GOP Candidate WAS the biggest victory of all.

Certainly the fist fights on the floor of the Cow Palace indicated the stakes were very, very high.

It was the very first Conservative victory since Hoover.

[entropy12]

Cruz will get my support if he runs. However I do not want a repeat of 2012 when conservative candidates fought each other to the bitter end clearing way for the moderate from mass. I really am afraid that will happen again and we end up with Jeb Bush as the nominee.

[Mariner]

Of note: Goldwater was not your typical Conservative or Republican.

As with most (c)onservatives/Republicans that come from the Western US he had a visible (l)ibertarian streak.

As did Reagan and as does Cruz and Palin.

[entropy12]

Granted, but no other candidate has been able to accomplish the same thing. There were plenty of other people at CPAC besides the Paulbots who stood up and cheered after Rand spoke. Ditto at UCBerkeley. Everyone without exception stood up and gave a long ovation at both venues. I would not minimize that skill and ability.

[onyx]

B T T T ! ! ! ©

[ansel12]

Reagan, Cruz, and Palin are all conservative, and Goldwater didn’t become a social liberal until many years later in life.

[ansel12]

Paul hurt himself when he opened his campaign by moving left and coming out against the party platform and for gay marriage and a social liberal agenda, and of course his embracing of the GOPe.

As far as CPAC.

Here’s a list of past CPAC straw poll winners.

1976 Ronald Reagan
1980 Ronald Reagan
1984 Ronald Reagan
1986 Jack Kemp
1987 Jack Kemp
1993 Jack Kemp
1995 Phil Gramm
1998 Steve Forbes
1999 Gary Bauer
2000 George W. Bush
2005 Rudy Giuliani
2007 Mitt Romney
2008 Mitt Romney
2009 Mitt Romney
2010 Ron Paul
2011 Ron Paul
2012 Mitt Romney
2013 Rand Paul
2014 Rand Paul

[9YearLurker]

Why not?

[9YearLurker]

Anyone who’s not already trekking to IA and NH, lining up donor, and starting to put together a preliminary team is too late for running in 2016.

[9YearLurker]

With a repeat landslide winner in Reagan, but ‘safe’ losers in Dole, McCain, and Romney, I don’t see how you can possibly draw that conclusion.

[9YearLurker]

You’re absolutely right, SoCon—Cruz and Palin are the only two prospects we have who are on the right side of amnesty.