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.
Hail Mary pass incomplete.
I hope it fails, but I think I know see some method here, where earlier in the day I only saw it as a rookie mistake.
Like to wager whether Trump carries NY in the General Election?
Cruz technique of self-immolation was perfected last night.
But we may get an encore before Iowa
cross-fingers!
And he shouldn’t be!
He has had push polls and calls, in Iowa, for about a week 1/2, now, and Trump’s numbers just keep going up in Iowa.
Cruz may have gained Iowa but he handed New York to Trump—He will be their favorite son.
Like to wager whether Trump carries NY in the General Election?
Sorry I’m not a betting man.
But if you like to win you know what to do.
Cruz was never going to win NY.
NY already elected Hillary once, how many times have they elected Trump?
I don’t believe that Trump even thinks in terms of ideology, and thus would not know a Conservative judge nomination even if advised.
He thinks by using New York Values, or what he believes to be common sense.
Those values are liberal.
“Cruz needs to double down, in the same fashion Trump did on a variety of his statements.”
Exactly. Quayle should have simply said to Bentsen, “if you knew Jack Kennedy so well, you would know that he was for cutting taxes, not raising them.”
“They don’t represent the majority of Americans”
And the funny thing is, every time we nominate one of theirs and get crushed, they don’t learn from experience. There are people here who believe Cruz could actually be elected President.
There are people here who believe, for example, that getting endorsed by Dobson brought Cruz closer to the White House.
“Like to wager whether Trump carries NY in the General Election?”
How much?
Trump will take NY, NJ, MA, and Illinois.
Trump’s values are saying whatever the LIEberal sheep will lap up....then turn and say the exact opposite if his poll numbers take a nosedive.
We can keep it inexpensive......How about . $25 toward 4Q 2016 Freepathon
Excellent article.
Done.
So much for your claims to scholarly attributes.
Weak minds like yours always react so predictably when they are outsmarted.
In your vernacular, it’s being a dumb ass.
Not really. Head to head polling has Cruz beating Trump handily in a two man race. Which basically tells us exactly where those voters will go.
I don't belong to any union; do you? And I have hated unions all of my life.
Go away kid; you're mentally defective.
Cruz simply responded to it.
Clever.
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