Posted on 11/10/2015 2:35:52 PM PST by Isara
While Donald Trump and Ben Carson continue to dominate the polls and a gaggle of Establishment candidates battle one another, the favorite to win the Republican presidential nomination just might be Texas Sen. Ted Cruz, journalist Mark Halperin said Tuesday.
On the day of the fourth Republican debate Tuesday, Halperin said on "The Laura Ingraham Show" that Cruz might be best situated to, as Ingraham put it, "marry the passion to the substance."
Halperin, co-managing editor of Bloomberg Politics, said Cruz is set up nicely for the Iowa caucuses and would have favorable terrain in the early voting Southern states. In addition, he said, the Cruz campaign has a highly sophisticated effort to master the rules and intricacies of capturing delegates.
"If you total up the assets and problems and look at the calendar, you look at the fundraising, you look at message, I could make a case today that Cruz might be the most likely nominee," Halperin said. "And people are underestimating him and continue to underestimate him. I think the Establishment might be less happy with Ted Cruz as the nominee than even Trump."
The crowded, unpredictable Republican presidential nomination fight continues to be wide open, with a number of candidates having a plausible path to victory, Halperin said. His take on the leading contenders:
- Trump and Carson: Halperin said the GOP Establishment is recalibrating its earlier view that the two outsider candidates could not be the nominee. For both, Halperin said, the challenge is the same: "Can they convert interest in them in what has been going from summer into fall, into votes on caucus night or Election Day?"
- Jeb Bush: Halperin said the former Florida governor desperately needs some "good news cycles." He said Bush should not be counted out, but added he is battling stiff headwinds, including that there simply appears to be no grassroots support. "A real problem for him, amidst all of the other problems he has, is it's difficult to find enthusiasm for him."
- Sen. Marco Rubio: As Bush has faltered, Rubio, also of Florida, has looked more and more like the Establishment's fallback option. His problem, Halperin said, is that it is inconceivable he could lose the first four states and still capture the nomination.
Though Rubio is behind in the polls in all four states, Halperin said he could do well, or even win the Iowa caucuses, if Trump, Cruz and Carson split the anti-Establishment vote. "He could then use that to go on to New Hampshire and do well," he said.
If that happens, Halperin said, "He could be the de facto nominee by Feb. 9."
- Chris Christie: The New Jersey governor has performed so poorly that he has been relegated to the undercard in Tuesday night’s debate. But Halperin said Christie's political skill gives him a shot.
"You've got a 15-person roller derby - imagine Chris Christie out there on skates - he is the best political brawler in our politics, and this is a brawl," Halperin said.
Please click on the pictures at the top of the columns for more details on the ratings of the candidates.
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More at Conservative Review: https://www.conservativereview.com/2016-presidential-candidates
Note: If you don't like the ratings for any reason, please contact Conservative Review's Editor-in-Chief, "The Great One," Mark Levin. But I have to warn you that you may get this response from him: "GET OFF THE PHONE, YOU BIG DOPE!"
I usually have to take some minutes (though not in this case) to figure out if Mark Halperin is writing or Mark Helprin (the conservative) is writing. I get their names confused.
Let’s hope so! He’s by far the best of the bunch, especially with what’s going on overseas. But not just that. Domestic issues too. This couldn’t be more of a no-brainer.
Hmm ... useful if he has to run against Max Cleland, I guess ...
Cruz is playing the long game. No doubt much of it is behind the scenes as well. That so many watchers only look at the polls is a constant source of amusement.
The key to me is whether Cruz can touch peoples hearts during these debates. I think he can. He demonstrated this ability at the last debate. He is now on voters radar.
Here is who OWNS Ted:
Top 20 Contributors to Campaign Cmte and Leadership PAC
Contributor Total/Individual/PAC
1 Club for Growth $705,657 $705,602 $55
2 Senate Conservatives Fund $316,091 $306,091 $10,000
3 Woodforest Financial Group $129,150 $129,150 $0
4 RE Janes Gravel Co $75,600 $75,600 $0
5 Goldman Sachs $71,850 $66,850 $5,000
6 Sullivan & Cromwell $68,713 $68,713 $0
7 Morgan Lewis LLP $67,550 $67,550 $0
8 Avalon Advisors $58,900 $58,900 $0
9 Wapiti Energy $58,150 $58,150 $0
10 Berkshire Hathaway $53,250 $13,250 $40,000
11 Moncrief Oil International $50,900 $50,900 $0
12 Baker Botts LLP $49,163 $41,663 $7,500
13 Scot Industries $47,800 $47,800 $0
14 Jones Day $46,950 $46,950 $0
15 Tom Peacock Nissan $45,400 $45,400 $0
16 Credit Suisse Group $43,435 $40,935 $2,500
17 Ashford Hospitality Trust $43,100 $43,100 $0
18 Bartlit, Beck et al $42,550 $42,550 $0
19 McCombs Enterprises $39,950 $39,950 $0
20 Jackson Walker LLP
Yes, I believe the Senator has two of them at last count.
“Imagine Chris Christie out there on skates”
Imagine a hippopotamus on water skis.
And odd mix of ownership there. Free traders and amnesty folks all through that list. And investment bankers. Berkshire Hathaway? Yup, Warren Buffet.
Trump's Record on Free-market Issue: (from the Conservative Review)
Trump has a terrible record on free market issues. The only bright spot is the Federal Reserve's quantitative easing, but this glimmer is countermanded by his repeated support for bailing out Wall Street and the auto industry, and increased stimulus spending. Of particular concern is Trump's belief that the government can use eminent domain powers to seize private property in the name of private economic development. This comes as no surprise, given his support for using eminent domain to profit his own company.
Trump supported the Supreme Court’s 2005 decision in Kelo v. City of London, allowing public authorities to seize private land for economic development by private investors; Trump said, “I happen to agree with [the decision] 100 percent.” (National Review) This is no surprise given Trump’s attempt to use eminent domain in his own line of work. (Institute for Justice)
Trump supported President Obama’s 2009 stimulus, saying: “The word stimulus is probably not used in its fullest…you know, certain of the things that were given weren't really stimulus. They were pork, as we call it, or they were gifts to certain people. But overall, I think he's [President Obama] doing very well. You do need stimulus and you do have to keep the banks alive.” (CNN)
Trump supported TARP, saying, "You had to do something to shore up the banks, because ... you would have had a run on every bank." (CNN)
Trump supported the 2008 auto bailout, saying, “I think the government should stand behind them 100 percent. You cannot lose the auto companies. They’re great. They make wonderful products.” He also said that the federal government could “easily save the companies.” (Daily Caller)
Trump criticized the Federal Reserve’s intervention in the debt market, saying quantitative easing creates “phony numbers” that mislead the marketplace and “will not ultimately benefit the economy. The dollar will go down in value and inflation will start rearing its ugly head.” (CNBC)
Donald Trump has a history of using eminent domain to complete business deals. Multiple times Trump has supported the use of government agencies to take possession of homes and businesses for use in his private business plans. Eminent domain seizures are reserved only for public use of property rather than abuse by the government taking property from one individual and giving to another. (Washington Post)
Donald Trump has sought and received crony capitalist tax breaks for his commercial properties in New York. These tax breaks, and even an abatement, force the property taxes of other property owners to rise at the expense of the connected. Special treatment for one business or industry over another with the tax code conflicts with free market principles. (National Review)
In 2009, Trump supported Barack Obama's call for limits on the pay of executives. (CNN)
Given how much Cruz scares GOPe and the Democrats (and the natural overlap between the two) , it’s obvious why the base supports him/gives him those legs.
Club for Growth ACTIVELY supports amnesty as well as “FREE TRADE”. Read that as TPP.
Expect all of Ted’s CURRENT policies (when/if he releases them) to effectively mirror those of his OWNERS.
His VAT tax plan is a perfect example.
Even your bogus chart says Ted is for “Free Markets”. That means our current disastrous trade policies.
If you think anybody owns Ted, you haven’t been paying attention. The only folks he is obligated to are the good people of Texas who elected him.
"Trump has an inconsistent record when it comes to civil liberties. He supported the NSA mass surveillance program but did not weigh in on the recently passed reforms. Overall, he has avoided commenting on religious freedom, but says he would be an advocate for Christians. Trump supports an individual’s right to make unlimited campaign contributions, but advocates for an end to soft money in politics. Most concerning is Trump’s belief that the government can use eminent domain powers to seize private property for economic benefit for others."
Trump supports the NSA’s metadata collection program, saying, “I support legislation which allows the NSA to hold the bulk metadata. For oversight, I propose that a court, which is available any time on any day, is created to issue individual rulings on when this metadata can be accessed.” This position was identical to the NSA’s mass surveillance program before being reformed by the USA Freedom Act. (Newsweek)
Trump has avoided commenting on religious freedom since Indiana passed its Religious Freedom and Restoration Act into law. Instead, he has said that he will be the “greatest representative of the Christians they've had in a long time” if elected president. (Christian Today) (Breitbart)
Trump believes political soft money should be banned, while individuals should be allowed to make unlimited contributions. "If I were drawing a political cartoon to represent the situation, it would include a very large guy with a huge bag of money. On that bag would be written one word: soft. Soft money is the bane of the current system and we need to get rid of it." (The America We Deserve)
Trump supported the Supreme Court’s 2005 decision in Kelo v. City of New London, giving public authorities the right to seize private land for economic development by private investors. Trump said, “I happen to agree with [the decision] 100 percent.” (National Review)
Trump highlighted his support for prosecuting "hate crimes" against homosexuals in his 2000 book, The America We Deserve. “Hate Crime” is a term used to extend special protections for a specific classes and in essence elevates the importance of these classes above others. For example, murder of homosexual or heterosexual should be viewed equally under the law and punished equally. Creating special classes is a liberal tactic used to divide and segment society.(Google Books)
Trump said that Kim Davis should not have been jailed for refusing to issue gay marriage licenses. He also said that she should allow her deputy clerks to do so, but also said that 30 miles away you can get a license so people should do that. He added, "The decision's been made, and that is the law of the land." (CNN)
Much like his stance on eminent domain, Donald Trump has shown a troubling tendency to want to use the power of government to stifle political speech. When the conservative Club for Growth released an advertisement regarding Trump's changing positions on taxation, Trump responded with a legal letter calling for them to cease and desist the advertisements. A chilling move towards the silencing of political speech. (Politico)
Donald Trump attacked SuperPACs (political action committees) in the third Republican debate. By suggesting they should be outlawed he came out against the First Amendment protection of speech, and echoed progressive talking points. (Time) 
 Ted Cruz on Abortion |
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 Ted Cruz on Budget & Economy |
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| Ted Cruz on Civil Rights |
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| Ted Cruz on Corporations |
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| Ted Cruz on Crime |
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| Ted Cruz on Drugs |
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| Ted Cruz on Education |
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| Ted Cruz on Energy & Oil |
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| Ted Cruz on Environment |
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| Ted Cruz on Families & Children |
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| Ted Cruz on Foreign Policy |
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| Ted Cruz on Free Trade |
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| Ted Cruz on Government Reform |
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| Ted Cruz on Gun Control |
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| Ted Cruz on Health Care |
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| Ted Cruz on Homeland Security |
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| Ted Cruz on Immigration |
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| Ted Cruz on Jobs |
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| Ted Cruz on Principles & Values |
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| Ted Cruz on Social Security |
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| Ted Cruz on Tax Reform |
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| Ted Cruz on Technology |
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| Ted Cruz on War & Peace |
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| Ted Cruz on Welfare & Poverty |
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| VoteMatch Responses (Click here for VoteMatch quiz) |
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| VoteMatch Question & Answer (Click on question for explanation and background) |
Based on these stances: (Click on topic for excerpt & citation) |
| Strongly Opposes topic 1: Abortion is a woman's unrestricted right (-5 points on Social scale) |
Ban taxpayer funding of abortion & partial birth abortion: Strongly Opposes topic 1 Companies can deny insuring birth control: Opposes topic 1 Protect innocent human life with partial-birth ban: Strongly Opposes topic 1 Opposes public abortion funding: Opposes topic 1 Opposes churches providing birth control: Opposes topic 1 |
| No opinion on topic 2: Legally require hiring women & minorities (0 points on Economic scale) |
Disallow Ku Klux Klan from participating in Adopt-A-Highway: Favors topic 2 NO on reauthorizing the Violence Against Women Act: Opposes topic 2 |
| Strongly Opposes topic 3: Comfortable with same-sex marriage (-5 points on Social scale) |
Pray against a court decision legalizing same-sex marriage: Strongly Opposes topic 3 Zealotry on same-sex marriage leaves out religious liberty: Strongly Opposes topic 3 Most states can ignore Supreme Court legalizing gay marriage: Strongly Opposes topic 3 Opposes the unrelenting assault on traditional marriage: Strongly Opposes topic 3 Overturn Supreme Court with anti-gay marriage Amendment: Strongly Opposes topic 3 Opposes gay pride parades and opposes gay marriage: Strongly Opposes topic 3 One-man-one-woman marriage is building block of society: Strongly Opposes topic 3 Supports defining traditional marriage: Opposes topic 3 Supports banning military gay marriage: Opposes topic 3 Sponsored state definition of marriage supersedes federal gay marriage: Strongly Opposes topic 3 |
| Strongly Favors topic 4: Keep God in the public sphere (-5 points on Social scale) |
Defend Judeo-Christian values against liberal fascism: Strongly Favors topic 4 Stop IRS from asking: 'tell me the content of your prayers': Strongly Favors topic 4 Government checks create dependency: Favors topic 4 Defend Ten Commandments and "under God" in the Pledge: Strongly Favors topic 4 Rated 100% by the AU, indicating opposition to separation of church & state: Strongly Favors topic 4 |
| Strongly Opposes topic 5: Expand ObamaCare (+5 points on Economic scale) |
I regret voting for John Roberts because of ObamaCare vote: Strongly Opposes topic 5 Washington wants ObamaCare, the people want liberty: Strongly Opposes topic 5 Support nuns' battle for religious liberty against ObamaCare: Opposes topic 5 To repeal ObamaCare, show Dems they'd lose by supporting it: Opposes topic 5 5 million had health insurance canceled because of ObamaCare: Strongly Opposes topic 5 Vow to repeal ObamaCare: Strongly Opposes topic 5 Save Medicare by raising eligibility age: Favors topic 5 Throw my body in front of a train to stop ObamaCare: Strongly Opposes topic 5 Defeat ObamaCare; rein in the federal government: Strongly Opposes topic 5 Defund, repeal, & replace federal care with free market: Strongly Opposes topic 5 Repeal any federal health care takeover: Strongly Opposes topic 5 Supports repealing ObamaCare: Strongly Opposes topic 5 Supports market-based health insurance: Opposes topic 5 |
| Strongly Favors topic 6: Privatize Social Security (+5 points on Economic scale) |
Raise retirement age; cap increases to inflation rate: Favors topic 6 Transition younger workers into personal savings system: Favors topic 6 Rated 0% by ARA, indicating a pro-privatization stance: Strongly Favors topic 6 |
| Strongly Favors topic 7: Vouchers for school choice (+5 points on Economic scale) |
Right to education: public, private, charter, or homeschool: Strongly Favors topic 7 Education decisions best made at local level: Favors topic 7 Denounce the Common Core State Standards: Favors topic 7 |
| Favors topic 8: EPA regulations are too restrictive (-3 points on Social scale) |
NO on protecting ocean, coastal, and Great Lakes ecosystems: Favors topic 8 |
| Strongly Favors topic 9: Stricter punishment reduces crime (-5 points on Social scale) |
World Court should have no say in Texas executions: Strongly Favors topic 9 Fully monitor sexual predators & bring them to justice: Favors topic 9 Supports the death penalty: Strongly Favors topic 9 |
| Strongly Favors topic 10: Absolute right to gun ownership (+5 points on Economic scale) |
Opposes unreasonable and burdensome gun restrictions: Strongly Favors topic 10 Opposes restricting the Second Amendment: Favors topic 10 NO on banning high-capacity magazines of over 10 bullets: Strongly Favors topic 10 |
| Opposes topic 11: Higher taxes on the wealthy (+2 points on Economic scale) |
Abolish the IRS: Strongly Favors topic 11 Permanent Washington elite protects the tax code: Opposes topic 11 Adopt a single-rate tax system: Strongly Opposes topic 11 Repeal tax hikes in capital gains and death tax: Strongly Opposes topic 11 Supports the Taxpayer Protection Pledge: Strongly Opposes topic 11 Opposes increasing tax rates: Opposes topic 11 Supports eliminating the inheritance tax: Opposes topic 11 |
| Strongly Opposes topic 12: Pathway to citizenship for illegal aliens (-5 points on Social scale) |
End Obama's illegal amnesty via Congress' checks & balances: Strongly Opposes topic 12 Defund amnesty; and refuse any nominees until rescinded: Strongly Opposes topic 12 No path to citizenship for 1.65 million illegals in Texas: Strongly Opposes topic 12 Give police more power to ask about immigration status: Strongly Opposes topic 12 Boots on the ground, plus a wall: Strongly Opposes topic 12 Triple the size of the Border Patrol: Strongly Opposes topic 12 Strengthen border security and increase enforcement: Strongly Opposes topic 12 |
| Strongly Favors topic 13: Support & expand free trade (+5 points on Economic scale) |
Defended Chinese company on intellectual property theft: Strongly Favors topic 13 |
| Strongly Favors topic 14: Support American Exceptionalism (+5 points on Economic scale) |
Don't let world courts bind American sovereignty: Strongly Favors topic 14 Cuba is oppressive but never misses chance to propagandize: Favors topic 14 America is indispensable; our allies need our leadership: Strongly Favors topic 14 US has a responsibility to defend our values abroad: Favors topic 14 Sponsored opposing the United Nations Arms Trade Treaty: Strongly Favors topic 14 Oppose the United Nations' Arms Trade Treaty: Favors topic 14 |
| Strongly Favors topic 15: Expand the military (-5 points on Social scale) |
Vital role for deploying military force abroad: Strongly Favors topic 15 Fierce advocate of recruiting and growing the military: Strongly Favors topic 15 |
| No opinion on topic 16: Make voter registration easier (0 points on Social scale) |
If you like special interests, I ain't your guy: Favors topic 16 Require voters to show ID to avoid voter fraud: Opposes topic 16 |
| Opposes topic 17: Avoid foreign entanglements (-3 points on Social scale) |
Toughen sanctions on Iran, to safeguard America: Strongly Opposes topic 17 Arm the Kurds to fight ISIS, with US air support: Opposes topic 17 Bomb ISIS back to the Stone Age: Strongly Opposes topic 17 Arm & aid the Peshmerga Kurds against ISIS: Strongly Opposes topic 17 Don't arm Syrian rebels without a clear plan to combat ISIS: Favors topic 17 Vigorous sanctions against Putin; help eastern Ukraine: Opposes topic 17 Install Eastern European ABMs; stand up to Russia in Ukraine: Opposes topic 17 Wars in Iraq and Afghanistan went on too long: Favors topic 17 Sponsored shutting down Iranian foreign reserves: Opposes topic 17 |
| Strongly Opposes topic 18: Prioritize green energy (+5 points on Economic scale) |
Fight against Gulf moratorium on offshore exploration: Strongly Opposes topic 18 Signed the No Climate Tax Pledge by AFP: Strongly Opposes topic 18 Cap-and-trade has no impact on global temperatures: Strongly Opposes topic 18 Explore proven energy reserves & keep energy prices low: Opposes topic 18 Let states lease energy rights on federal lands: Strongly Opposes topic 18 |
| Opposes topic 19: Marijuana is a gateway drug (+2 points on Social scale) |
Lower minimums and mandatory sentencing for drugs: Opposes topic 19 |
| Strongly Opposes topic 20: Stimulus better than market-led recovery (+5 points on Economic scale) |
Pass a flat tax and abolish the IRS, and jobs will follow: Strongly Opposes topic 20 Balanced budget amendment to stop bankrupting our country: Strongly Opposes topic 20 Debt ceiling limits "blank check" of federal spending: Strongly Opposes topic 20 Limit federal spending growth to per-capita inflation rate: Strongly Opposes topic 20 Supports the Cut-Cap-and-Balance Pledge: Opposes topic 20 Audit the Federal Reserve & its actions on mortgage loans: Opposes topic 20 |
| Ted Cruz is a Hard-Core Conservative. Click here for explanation of political philosophy. Click here for VoteMatch quiz. |
All the insipid smears to Cruz ignore these factors.
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