Ted Cruz Has Earned a Second Look From Us All

RedState ^ | August 3rd, 2015 at 12:00 PM | Leon H. Wolf

[SoConPubbie]

I like Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) 100% a lot as a Senator, but I have never been a huge fan of his candidacy for President – at least until now. Generally speaking, I prefer governors to Senators, and I have an especial wariness for first term Senators. Additionally, I have questions about Cruz’s ability as a coalition builder and I know that he is a polarizing figure, even within the conservative movement.

However, episode three billion in the GOP Failure Theater tour, this time featuring Planned Parenthood failure theater, has pushed me into the camp that makes me want, more than anything, to see a Presidential candidate who is willing to fight and show the cowering squishes who run this party how it is done.

If the polls are to be believed, there are quite a lot of people who feel this way, given that it is the stated raison d’etre of the Donald Trump campaign. There’s only one real problem with their choice of candidate – Donald Trump hasn’t really done a lot that shows actual personal courage in terms of standing up to the Establishment. Donald Trump came into this world with a ton of money, every time he gets in any measure of financial trouble he displays his one true skill (coming out of bankruptcy with still a ton of money), and regardless of what happens in this election, he will be fine both financially and professionally. The only thing really he’s done is make offensive remarks about people, which doesn’t make him a more courageous or worthy Presidential candidate than Anthony Jeselnik would be.

Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) 100%, on the other hand, has shown time and time again a willingness to put himself at risk of personal and professional alienation for the sake of his principles. Whatever you think about Cruz’s repeated efforts to repeal Obamacare, his actions with respect to the Planned Parenthood defunding fight have demonstrated, even for those who have been inclined to defend leadership over the years, how well and truly rotten the Senate leadership is. The fact that he put Sen. John Cornyn (R-TX) 53% on record stating that adherence to the Senate calendar was more important than defunding Planned Parenthood was a public service to the whole world.

And for doing this, he has been the victim of an unrelenting campaign of smears and cold shoulders from the GOP establishment. No one in the GOP field – including Trump – has been the recipient of more invective and unsourced backstabbing than Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) 100% over the years.

A lot of candidates this year are positioning themselves as the “anti-establishment” candidate. If you want to know who really deserves that mantle, look at who the establishment constantly attacks and belittles. The reality is that the one guy who has consistently taken the fight to them, from day one, has been Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) 100%.

If you are coming increasingly to the belief – as I am – that willingness to fight is the most important qualification for our 2016 nominee, then it’s time to take a second hard look at Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) 100%, whatever you think about his other qualifications.

[Isara]

Life, Marriage & Family

Without life, there is no liberty. And ensuring every child is born into a home with a loving family provides the best chance for that child to achieve anything. That is why Ted Cruz has been on the front lines defending life and standing up for marriage when it has come under assault from activist judges.

• Led the charge on behalf of 13 states to successfully defend, before the U.S. Supreme Court, a federal law that bans one form of late-term abortion, the Partial Birth Abortion Act.
• Advocated for an investigation into abortion practices in the U.S. to prevent the atrocities witnessed in Kermit Gosnell’s facility from ever happening again.
• Joined 18 states in successfully defending the New Hampshire parental-notification law before the U.S. Supreme Court.
• Successfully defended in federal court Texas’s Rider 8, which prohibits state funds for groups that provide abortions.
• Fought for the right of states to define marriage, without intrusion by unelected federal judges, by drafting the State Marriage Defense Act.
• Defended Texas’s marriage laws when a renegade state court attempted to grant a divorce to a same-sex couple who had obtained a civil union in Vermont.
• Authored legislation and a constitutional amendment in the Senate to prevent federal courts from further interfering with any state’s Constitutionally-protected authority to define marriage.

[napscoordinator]

Thank you for that list sincerely.....I didn’t think he passed a thing in the Senate but at least he has some terrorist activity that was passed which is good.

[GeronL]

76% of the financing goes to 10 corporations

You say there is profit in this, then the private sector would be doing it.

[SoConPubbie]

I love Ted Cruz I just have concerns because he is not polling very well. He and Trump are the only ones I’m even interested in.

That doesn't make sense in the least.

We are at the very beginning of the Primary season and you are letting poll numbers move you away from the best candidate in the race? Simply mind-boggling.

Two salient points:

1. At the beginning of his Senate Primary campaign, Ted Cruz polled at 3% and still blew the doors off of the of his GOP-E competitor Drewhurst.

2. After gaining the GOP Nomination in 79', Reagan was down 30% to Carter and still went on to win by 10%.

Now is NOT the time to be letting poll numbers help make your decisions about who to back in the primary. The Candidate's fidelity to Conservative policy positions, his ability to communicate and argue for those conservative policy positions, and his fearlessness in fighting for the conservative policy positions are THE ONLY THINGS you should be looking at.

[SoConPubbie]

BTW Isara, my language aside, my demeanor at times also, I am a devout Christian. I will vote for Trump.

Apparently not as devout as you think you are.

How anyone can speak out of one side of their mouth proclaiming their devoutness to Christ and then support a POTUS candidate who is pro-abortion and will not fight against Gay Marriage is beyond me.

If you support somebody you know is wrong on the social issues, i.e. Romney, Trump, then you own those evil sinful choices they are making by supporting their policy positions. In other words, you end up owning their ugly evil choices as well.

[DoughtyOne]

Before I address your post, I did want to go back and address a comment I made to you.  I referred to Trump as a once in 40 year cadidate.  Reagan, the last guy to confront the press in a manner that was bigger than life, came along in 1980.  We're talking 36 years in stead of 40.  I had been thinking in terms of 38 years for some reason and rounded.  I wouldn't round up 4 years, but I do think 36 years is significant.  When will we have another guy that can bull-doze the press?  Will the nation still be here for him to do it?

As long as you know exactly whom you will vote for to lead this country back to the way it was founded, I'm not going to talk you out of it.

One thing is certain, most of the candidates on "our side" will tell us they know the way, and we'll wind up realizing we've already been by this spot five times during their short cut.  They are lost.  What's more we know they are even now.

I'm done playing that games.  What would you say is Trumps main focus.  He says it is "Making American Great Again."  Doesn't that in and of itself reveal a man that knows our nation is headed in the wrong direction.  One could counter that Obama himself made a similar claim.  Most of us knew that was a damnable lie.  He had not intention of returning us to greatness, because he didn't share in our vision of what greatness was.  Trump has revealed that he does.

Cruz at 3.4% isn't going anywhere.  Even Walker at 10.3%.  We saw how those numbers played out with Dole, Bush, McCain, and Romney, the most Liberal winning each time.  What have we got to lose by backing Trump?

Moreover, you probably know already that Donald Trump is not Conservative and he will disappoint you.

I'm no more convinced that Trump is Conservative than I am that Walker is not.  A lot of folks were so convinced that Bush was the right guy, that they absolutely drove many people off this forum.  How did that work out for us?

I'm not picking Trump because I know he can win.  I am picking him because he is destroying the Democrat/Republican party machine.  That is why they are terrified of him.

By the way, since one of your criteria to pick your candidate is to win, I hope in a few months many FReepers and I will welcome you back to Ted Cruz's camp.

Here's the latest poll.  Look where Cruz is compared to Bush.

LINK

[DoughtyOne]

I appreciate you questioning my Christianity.

Good luck with that.

Trump on abortion:

http://www.ontheissues.org/Celeb/Donald_Trump_Abortion.htm

Trump on same sex marriage:

http://perezhilton.com/2015-06-29-donald-trump-same-sex-marriage-cnn-interview#.Vb_pm_mfHoY

[SoConPubbie]

Trump on abortion:

JANUARY 2015

First he states he is in support of Abortion for Rape, Incest and Life of the Mother.

Then Trump was asked about a abortion by a woman being pregnant, and not from rape or incest, and Trump answered that it depends on how far along the baby is.

“It depends when”

INTERVIEWER: “So say a woman is pregnant, and it is not in any of those exceptions [rape/incest]categories, and she chooses to have an abortion” TRUMP: “it depends when, it depends when”

YouTube Video of Interview

You need to be better informed D1. Trump is only slightly less Pro-Abortion than Romney was.

[SoConPubbie]

Trump on same sex marriage:

He gave a mushed-mouth response in that interview. He has not said ONE WORD against the unconstitutional Gay Marriage ruling by SCOTUS, NOT ONE!

He is already telling you and I what he would do as President with regards to Gay Marriage, ABSOLUTELY NOTHING!

Don't tell me you are a devout Christian and then accept a POTUS candidate that is not willing to fight against what God has called an Abomination. It does not fit D1.

Romney had the same mealy-mouthed response concerning Gay Marriage, that he believed it was between a man and a woman and yet Romney is the Father of Gay Marriage in America, he single-handedly without the MA Legislature or any law, implemented Gay Marriage in MA.

[DoughtyOne]

SoConPubbie, when Bush had a majority in both the House and the Senate, what did he do to stop abortion?

N O T H I N G !

Any questions? Good. There aren’t any.

Please link me to where any Republican candidate has explained how they will outlaw abortion in the United States.

I’ll laugh at you and them. That isn’t going to happen.

You’ll simply wind up never voting again, or voting for the biggest liar on the subject.

Once again, you’re back to square zero.

Would I like to end abortion in the U. S.? Sure. I’d also like to have $10 million in gold bullion.

What you’re shoveling here is a lot of bull and no ion.

[SoConPubbie]

SoConPubbie, when Bush had a majority in both the House and the Senate, what did he do to stop abortion?

N O T H I N G !

B.S.! and quit making excuses for accepting someone who IS NOT Pro-Life.

Bush have us two Pro-Life justices in Alito and Roberts

And I can garantee you that if Trump is elected, given his lack of fidelity to the Constitution, his liberal policies where Universal Healthcare is concerned and his lack of fidelity to Social Conservative positions you will not get anyone close to someone like Alito.

[DoughtyOne]

SoConPubbie, you're attacking Trump on these two issues is reasoned until you admit nobody else is going to do anyting about either of them.

Please point to one single Republican president in your lifetime that enforced the party platform on Abortion.

Please give us a link to the platform of one presidential candidate that gives you a step by step process how they will eliminate abortion in the United States  I and a lot of others would enjoy a good laugh.  It isn't going to happen.

Tell me how a president is going to over-rule the SCOTUS on the matter of same-sex marriage.

Comply with these requests before you continue.

Don't slander me for recognizing the political realities inside the United States.

Is it your take Hillary Clinton should win by default because no Republican is going to end abortion or same-sex marriage?

As for what Romney did, he's not running.

As for what Trump has done, his actions are on the record.  So are his stated policies.

If you don't like him, don't vote for him.

I won't be standing by watching Hillary Clinton or Bernie Sanders get a walk-in pass.

I don't know a single Christian that would.

[DoughtyOne]

Yeah, please remind me who Bush gave us for SCOTUS justices.

Roberts

You have no idea who Trump would appoint as a SCOTUS Justice.

And you did not provide the links I requested.

You’ve got a do-over. NOW!

[dschapin]

If you look at RCP poll average, Sen. Cruz currently has a polling average of 6.7 %

http://www.realclearpolitics.com/epolls/2016/president/us/2016_republican_presidential_nomination-3823.html

[dschapin]

Cruz’s national polling numbers have radically improved over the last week. His RCP average improved from 4.8% to 6.7%. Basically over the past week he has moved from eighth place nationally to fourth place nationally.

[DoughtyOne]

Cruz does go from 3.4 to 6.7% there.

On the other hand Walker goes from 10.3% to 12.

As I said earlier, Cruz and Walker fill the same nitch IMO.

They should be pulling even. If they’re not, I see that as a problem for Cruz.

Perhaps others will see it differently.

[dschapin]

Cruz is NOT at 3.4% nationally. If you look at the link I provided to the RCP polling average he is at 6.7% nationally which is almost double the number you keep quoting.

[nascarnation]

That’s interesting. I don’t follow the national news much outside of FR. Were there any obvious events that boosted him?

[dschapin]

I think it started about a week and a half ago with the way that Cruz publically took on Sen. McConnell’s corrupt leadership in the and pointed out that Sen. McConnell had passed the same legislation that Harry Reid would have done as majority leader. Since then Sen. Cruz has made very bold statements opposing Planned Parenthood, the Iran Nuclear Agreement, and the Climate Change fraud.

[dschapin]

corrupt leadership in the Senate