Posted on 01/15/2016 1:41:05 PM PST by Brices Crossroads
Watching the Fox Business News debate last night, in particular Donald Trump's savage rejoinder to Ted Cruz's attack on "New York Values", I was reminded of a debate over twenty five years ago when another young Senator found himself on the receiving end of a similar shiv in the ribs from a more seasoned competitor.
In the 1988 Vice Presidential debate, Senator Dan Quayle was attempting to allay fears that he was too young (41) for the job. He compared his level of experience to that of John F. Kennedy at a similar point in their careers. His opponent, Texas Senator Lloyd Bentsen, stood and watched until Quayle finished and then uncorked among the most memorable lines in American political history: "Senator, I knew Jack Kennedy, I served with Jack Kennedy, Jack Kennedy was a friend of mine. Senator, you're no Jack Kennedy." Quayle stood frozen at his podium, head down as Bentsen slowly and deliberately delivered the line, as if waiting for the blade of the guillotine to drop. When is was over with Quayle could only respond weakly, "That as uncalled for, Senator." Perhaps it was. I certainly thought so. But that single line, perfectly delivered, spelled the end of Dan Quayle as a political figure of consequence.
Fast forward to the debate last night. Ted Cruz set forth his bill of particulars against New York's sins of social liberalism (which actually afflict the entire country in varying degrees) in a rather transparent attempt to pander to the evangelicals in Iowa. When Cruz had finished Trump slowly and deliberately, in hushed tones, painted a picture of New York and New Yorkers as resilient and brave in the aftermath of 9/11. As Bentsen had hearkened back to a martyred President, Trump channeled the New York Fire Fighters and other heroes of September 11. The reaction was so electric that Cruz actually joined the audience in clapping for his opponent. By the time Trump turned to look at him and call him out to his face, Cruz just stood there mute with a sheepish smile on his face, like a beaten puppy. I was embarrassed for him. The optics of the exchange were so devastating for Cruz that it is hard to see how he recovers. The fact that Trump had telegraphed earlier in that day that he intended to allude to 9/11 made it all the more perplexing that Cruz, a reputedly seasoned debater, was unprepared for it and in fact doubled down on his earlier statements, leaving himself wide open to Trump's thrust. While Quayle was caught by surprise, Cruz was hoisted by his own petard.
Finally, pandering on social issues, such as abortion and gay marriage, is standard fare in a GOP primary. GOP candidates have been doing so for well over a quarter of a century. On the the rare occasions when the GOP has won elections in the last 25-30 years, the results for social conservatives have been underwhelming. I must confess that I have been taken in by this pandering more than once, because of my desire to see Roe v. Wade consigned to the ash heap of judicial history. No more. The candidates who shout the loudest and promise the most on this score never get around to the fact that a President's power to affect these issues is severely limited. From now on, it is not who yells the loudest about abortion that will get my vote, but the candidate who, I believe, will fight the hardest and most effectively to get his court appointments confirmed. Donald Trump has said that his favorite Supreme Court Justice is Clarence Thomas, the most conservative Justice on the Court and among the most conservative in history. I have no doubt that Trump would use his powers of persuasion and negotiation, including brass knuckled threats of political retribution against Senators, in order to get his nominations confirmed.
While Ted Cruz is certainly willing to talk about the social issues, at least in Iowa (if not at his fundraisers in Manhattan), I do not believe he would be nearly as effective in nominating conservative judges and, more to the point, getting them confirmed.
Except... without Iowa he is dead. With Iowa he can presumably come back from this kerfuffle (which it really is).
Are you implying that Trump has values? How long as he had them?
+1
Oh the humanity...it’s the CRUZ ZEPPELIN !
CRASH & BURN ! LOL
Post No. 44 on this thread pretty much sums up NY values as far as I am concerned.
Hail Mary pass incomplete. The response by Trump will stand as one of the defining moments. 9/11 talk from someone who was there in sombre tones, unbeatable.
Well I doubt I can convince any of the Cruzers here to become Winners tonight.
I guess when Texas Ted utterly fails in Iowa some will see the light.
Ciao for now! Happy Friday!
Of course Bentsen had a point....Dan Quayle did not travel about the country bed-hopping with every blonde he met.
ep, even years ago, I have told many people that I thought developers were the sleaziest people on the face of the earth. Trump fits the bill perfectly
I like Cruz but I’m starting to dislike his supporters.
His values are deporting illegal aliens and stopping Muslim immigration.
stuck his foot in that big pompous mouth of his.
From the Trumpet camp? The ultimate of irony.
Its all in the ATTITUDE my friend. Texas Ted’s came out gushing last night, very stinky.
People know winners from losers.
Yup, which goes to show how weak Cruz's position is. Trump doesn't need Iowa. Cruz does.
So, Cruz is doing the best with the cards that have been dealt to him, which really aren't all that good.
Winning!!!!!!! Winners!!!!!!! ...... Sounds like Charlie Sheen and Donald Trump are one and the same person.
Just the fact that Cruz played the NY-Values card shows he is not confident about Iowa at all.
Maybe. But it’s delicious to see someone be honest, especially after a city and state which has supported some of the worst liberal hacks in the country and will continue to do so. Of course, the rest of the country has had to endure their “New York values.”
Cruz walked right into a left hook last night and it threw him off the rest of the debate IMO. The back and forth with Rubio did not do Cruz any good either.
“WHO ARE YOU CALLING A LIBERAL?, YOU COMMIE”
Actually, I think you are a troll. Probably a liberal, but most certainly an idiot. Which union are you working for?
Post No. 44 on this thread pretty much sums up NY values as far as I am concerned.
Foolish. Cruz cant target just the queers and commies with a comment like his.
Cruz slapped NY State collectivey across the face
And handed 1000’s of votes to Trump.
That’s pure Genius, I’ll tell Ya! :p
I wonder if the families of the victims of the 9/11 attacks as well as the brave heroic first responders are offended that Trump is politicizing 9/11 for political gain. Cruz never mentioned 9/11 and nobody who is honest would suggest that his jab about “New York Values” had anything to do with those who were affected by the terrorist attacks. But that’s what demagogues do.
Furthermore, the mayor of New York is the one who disrespects his own policemen. That, along with the other liberal values of the politicians elected in New York is what Cruz was talking about.
Trump himself said he’s from New York and so has different values than people in other parts of the US.
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