Posted on 12/20/2015 8:39:10 AM PST by Kaslin
I've never formally endorsed a candidate in any presidential primary. This time the stakes are too high not to. Look around. The world is on fire and the party of Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton, not to mention the GOP's Obama-enabling RINO establishment, are playing with gasoline.
And so, while he's been among my top picks all along, I am now proud to publicly endorse for president of the United States Sen. Ted Cruz, the man who best personifies the anti-establishment, principle over perceived pragmatism, survival over political correctness mood of the American electorate. I believe, God willing, that Sen. Cruz, a constitutional stalwart and steadfast statesman, is here "for a time such as this." He alone, in the spirit of Reagan v. Carter, can, in my estimation, mop the floor in the general election with Hillary Clinton (aka, Obama in a pantsuit).
Jesus warned: "If a house is divided against itself, that house cannot stand" (Mark 3:25). Nothing has borne out this reality in recent decades like that exasperating spectacle called the Republican presidential primary. These last few GOP horse races have been jam-packed with would-be conservative and faithfully Christian presidents who, after infighting with largely simpatico opponents, have canceled each other out, limped off to lick their wounds and left the perpetually underwhelmed GOP base to stay home and not vote for "imminently electable" establishment paragons like Presidents Dole, McCain and Romney. Divide and conquer. That's how the "moderate" GOP establishment plays the primary.
And then they lose the general.
Albert Einstein famously quipped that the definition of insanity is "doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results." In that sense, we conservatives are insane.
How about trying something new?
This 2016 GOP presidential primary is shaping up to be a three-way race between Ted Cruz, Donald Trump and Marco Rubio. With Jeb Bush languishing in the low single digits, the Republican establishment is clearly poised to throw its weight behind Rubio, leaving Cruz as the lone principled conservative with a shot.
And Donald Trump? Well, Steve Deace, my friend and fellow Cruz supporter, recently summed up Trump's conservative bona fides on CNN: "I know the establishment hates Trump, but Cruz was right to welcome him to the GOP. We're trying to grow the party. And in Trump, here's a lifelong Democrat and progressive who has given more money to the likes of Al Sharpton and Rahm Emanuel than anyone watching this will see in a lifetime. Yet now, with the country at its tipping point moment, he's chosen to come over to our side and adopt conservatism. So we welcome him into the fold."
As Ted Cruz quipped in Tuesday's debate on CNN, "If I'm elected president, we will secure the border, we will triple the border patrol, we will get a wall that works, and I'll get Donald Trump to pay for it."
Trump laughed and replied, "I'll build it!" I suspect there's a place in a Cruz administration for Donald Trump.
Indeed, while there remains a handful of other honorable, eminently qualified and actually conservative men in the GOP primary, any of whom I'd be honored to support under different circumstances, it has now become clear, in my humble opinion; an opinion supported by the polls that the window of opportunity has closed for them. Now is the time for them to bow out and throw their support behind Cruz. Moreover, conservative and Christian leaders around the country, as well as voters of every stripe, should put aside personal friendships and loyalties to other candidates and, likewise, rally behind the Texas senator.
Let's beat the establishment at its own game.
Fox News senior political analyst Brit Hume, a Washington insider who's made no secret of his disdain for Ted Cruz,recently gave him a backhanded compliment: "Cruz has so alienated his Senate colleagues, Republicans perhaps more than Democrats, that he's well positioned as an outsider. But his rise in the polls will put him in the spotlight. Iowa voters will have the holidays and all of January to ponder why Cruz is so disliked by his Senate colleagues. The question then will be this: Will they still feel the same way about him when they find out."
Mr. Hume, you're playing dumb. You know full well that Iowa voters, indeed most voters, understand completely why Ted Cruz is hated by many of his Senate colleagues on both sides of the aisle. Unlike his establishment contemporaries, he often stands alone, resolute and unwavering, in keeping the promises he's made to those who elected him as their Senate representative. The political establishment, whether it's got a "D" or an "R" behind its name, hates Ted Cruz with a white-hot hatred because he threatens the status quo. They're politicians hell-bent, first and foremost, on maintaining political power. Sen. Cruz, on the other hand, is a servant leader, a true statesman, determined to do what's best for America no matter the cost to his personal and political standing. No, Mr. Hume, the fact that Ted Cruz is hated by Washington insiders such as yourself is not a mark against him. It's a big part of the reason he's gaining steam.
Indeed, candidate Cruz is the right man for right now. Of course, while our ultimate hope can rest in Christ Jesus alone, He does appoint men and women on earth to act as his hands and feet. Ted Cruz is immovable, fearless and dogged in his determination to do the right thing. His integrity, character, remarkable communication skills and extraordinary persuasive powers, as evidenced by his five landmark victories before the U.S. Supreme Court as Texas solicitor general, have, among other things, uniquely qualified this fine man to become the leader of the free world.
Proverbs 4:18 says, "The path of the righteous is like the first gleam of dawn, shining ever brighter till the full light of day."
These are dark times. Ted Cruz is a righteous man. As president, he'll shine bright. He'll light the path. He'll help make America that "shining city on a hill" once more.
Trump has not been tried on the field. I met a lot of guys in bootcamp that talked a good fight, but when we got there, not so much.
I am not doubling down on a populist on my last bet,cause if we loose this one, we are busted flat. 8 years of a populist progressive for President has about destroyed this Nation. No way will I vote for another one. Even if he says he is conservative now.
Populism is NOT Conservative. You are hoping Trump walk the walk and change from his deeds in the past. Didnt you learn about hope and change and politicians yet?
I'm not making a personal judgment here but the average GOP voter is not as socially conservative as Cruz.
Between 60 and 70% of Republicans are pro life and anti gay marriage.
You've not named any Cruz positions that are "too conservative for the average GOP voter".
Well, well, well. I would call a pure politician someone who stands at the border and shakes hands with illegal aliens with one hand and gives them a Teddy Bear with the other. Cruz SAYS he is against amnesty and against illegal immigration, but he doesn’t show it. All authors and writers in general are aware of the cardinal rule: SHOW, Don’t TELL. Essentially,I believe ACTIONS speak louder than WORDS! Cruz has proven by his own actions to be soft on amnesty and lying when he says he is not. His dancing around on free trade and immigration also does not wash when he supports increasing H1B. ACTIONS speak louder than words over and over with Cruz. I’d rather see our Veterans get Teddy Bears and Soccer Balls for their children than illegal ALIENS. Over 30% of the poor in this country are children. We need to take care of our own, FIRST! WHY are our best, our veterans homeless? WHO among the candidates has supported our veterans long before he became a candidate? Trump!
“That’s called crony capitalism. That’s how NYC rolls, particularly when it comes to R/E development. I thought all the cronyism in D.C. was something so-called “conservatives†were trying to get rid of? So why are they letting themselves be seduced by a crony capitalist?”
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So when I give you an incidence where Trump actually has a proven record of working with others so you move to the “Crony Capitalism” argument? Do you think the neighboring wealthy, non-developers landowners who are notified by law during the development review process, don’t show up to oppose Trump? Hmmmm....
Understand that NYC real estate is incredibly competitive which provides strong resistance to crony capitalism. Crony Capitalism works best in markets that are easy to control. Sherman Anti Trust Act which is levied against real estate developers, 10 yrs & 250K fine, to stop them from divvying up the market behind the scenes.
If you want to talk about real crony capitalism, lets examine those candidates who are taking Millions of PAC donations. Let’s be clear...Super PACS are legal. There is no laws against business folks funding those. Caprock Partners alone has given 10 Million to one candidate. I’m sure they don’t want anything in return, right? They aren’t talking about this contribution yet, but it will appear during the general....trust me and Trump will not be able to protect Ted Cruz when that occurs.
Their Cruz “divine status” thing is just a smear based on a comment his proud father made. Of course Cruz has no more divine status than anyone. God rules in the affairs of men, but that doesn’t mean we have an inside track to His dealings. Some things He does as punishment (see Abraham Lincoln quote in previous post). Our job is to love His law (yes, even has Christians — especially as Christians!). It saves no one, ultimately, in that we all fall short. But our love for it gives evidence of our love for God. It’s principles should inform our voting. That doesn’t mean any candidate can be said to have “divine status.”
As for Trump supporters, drop the word “status” and you have what I see in them. They see their candidate as divine in the deity sense. He can do no wrong.
Been a trader for years. Am also aware of the “games” played. If you think wall street is squeaky clean, you’re not one of the smarter set. Inheriting his daddy’s money was no guarantee that Trump would keep it. Trump built a few million into billions. It’s utterly amazing to me how some people can’t understand that simple fact.
That is exactly true. And everyone who doesn’t proclaim his greatness from the highest mountain is an enemy, at least inedia. And everything that he says or does that raises a red flag is due more to our dullness of understanding, hateful hearts, or as I just read, psychological problems. It is really quite sad.
Two good things about being President is that you control the borders and immigration. Who do you think would use the powers of the Presidency to deal with illegal immigration and muslim immigration? If Obama can bring them in Trump can send them out.
As soon as Trump becomes President he will become the magnet for a new movement something like the Tea Party Movement but with muscle. Reforming, patriotic aspiring candidates will gravitate to Trump, he will endorse them and they will get elected. They won’t even have to be Republicans, they can be independent, no strings to either party. That is the way to break the elephants back. We have had to deal with these two parties’ self serving political machines for 150 years. Who needs them. Bye Bye.
Obsess much?
Please. I don’t think Wall Street is squeaky clean. And you ain’t so quick yourself if you think Trump did it all on his lonesome. You don’t get anywhere without being politically connected in NYC real estate. Trump is a politician, and a fairly liberal one at that. It’s utterly amazing to me how some people are so willfully blind to those simple facts.
Interesting read, Kaslin, and don’t worry about re-posting good stuff... I had not seen it.
I do not believe that ridiculous story. Can you back it up?
Wealth is a barometer of certain types of wisdom, yet wisdom is a barometer of everything. Wealth is a poor indicator of leadership as it often indicates corruption as well. I do not consider Nancy Pelosi or Hillery Clinton wise but they are wealthy and have built great empires.
Wisdom has not been displayed by Donald Trump in politics, only in his words. Politically his history is progressive democrat. So the obvious questions remains; is Trump another RINO liar, or is he telling the truth?
It is a serious question with no answer, so betting the future of the nation on my guesswork would not be wise.
I will vote Cruz, and see what Trump does politically before next term. If it is narcissism, he will most likely drop out of politics, but he fights on for Consrvative values, I will seriously consider voting him in.
With no track record he is unqualified for office. He has a bad track record that he has repented of. I accecpt his repentance, but wisdom demands I see the fruits of his repentance before I grant him trust.
Good Lord ... you DO spend a lot of time on Free Republic, don’t you.
How do you have time to write and edit?
I certainly never said or implied that Ted Cruz or any other candidate has been “given divine status.” You are way off base there. I have found fault with Cruz in what I consider the most important things we need right now in this country. Stopping the illegal “immigration” and getting our economy in order so that AMERICANS have jobs are THE deciding factors for me.In my opinion Trump is best equipped to right our sinking ship. My tally sheet on the candidates is based on my own awareness, experience, and knowledge acquired through research. No person’s argument or insult influences me one way or the other.
You haven’t seen his buildings? You don’t know about the charitable things he has done that weren’t publicized at the time? His whole life proves he is a man of action.
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....and a man of good deeds who operates quietly for the good of others.
Ahem.
I have seen that tactic used by Trump supporters before, i.e. “I was once a Cruz supporter but ... (follow by blah, blah, blah)
I challenged the last one I encountered to prove that he/she was once a Cruz supporter. He faded into the woodwork.
It would be easy for a frequent freeper such as yourself to find an old post wherein you supported Cruz.
Until you do, I can only assume you are a Trump fanatic using your mythical Cruz loving past to make your current hatred seem more real.
Not enough to post the same thread twice within an hour and a half.
Cruz supported more H1B visas not because it was good for America but because it was good for his big money donors.
You’re right and your right, of course, but I’ve never understood why people trail around accusing people of reposting.
Obviously, no one cares but you and a lot of people on this thread had not seen the post.
But, have fun.
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