Posted on 01/29/2016 7:38:20 AM PST by Kaslin
I keep hearing from supporters of other GOP candidates that Ted Cruz can't win the general election because he is too conservative and too preachy. These same people criticize him for not being authentically conservative and also support others who are preachy.
I have long lamented the conventional wisdom, swallowed whole by many nominally conservative Republicans, that a true-blue consistent conservative can't win a general presidential election because he can't attract moderates, centrists, independents, Perotistas, Trumpsters, disaffected Democrats and certainly not women or minorities.
Why is that the accepted thinking, when Ronald Reagan won in two landslides and the moderate GOP presidential candidates from George H.W. Bush to John McCain to Mitt Romney lost? George W. Bush's compassionate conservatism barely won in 2000.
Would someone please have the guts to tell me in what ways Ted Cruz is too conservative? What does that even mean?
Is your objection that he is socially conservative as well as an economic and foreign policy conservative? Hallelujah! So was Ronald Reagan. Remember his three-legged stool?
We hear from Trump supporters that Ted Cruz is not likable or electable and that he's an opportunistic follower of Donald Trump on the immigration issue. Thus they'll support the more likable, electable, real-deal immigration hawk.
But polls say otherwise. They indicate that both Cruz and Rubio could beat Hillary Clinton but that Trump would have more difficulty, probably because of his astronomical unfavorability ratings. The charge that Cruz is in the Trump slipstream on immigration is bunk as well. Cruz was fighting in the trenches on immigration before Trump brought his megaphone to the issue -- a megaphone we nevertheless appreciate -- and Cruz remains a more reliable bet on the borders and amnesty.
I repeat the question: How is Ted Cruz too conservative? Don't you really mean that Cruz is too committed to his principles, that he will actually fight against the establishment and thus he is a thorn in their side?
The establishment claims to be just as conservative as we are yet they have an unmistakable, visceral contempt for Ted Cruz, who is one person who has actually refused to "grow" after being elected. This should thrill true conservatives endlessly.
Can you imagine what Cruz could get done if he were elected with a mandate to implement conservative ideas -- the only antidote to the destructive path Obama has set us on? We've seen what we get with conservative lite, and it doesn't work.
We need an unprecedented reversal to get us out of this mess, but we mustn't -- forgive me the cliche -- throw the baby out with the bathwater. We must elect someone who not only will radically reverse our course but also has demonstrated his commitment to conservative principles, understands the United States Constitution and intends to honor its prescription for limited government.
I don't support Ted Cruz because he is by far the most learned constitutional scholar of all the candidates, though I am grateful for that bonus. It can't be solely a matter of head knowledge, but one also of the heart. Ted Cruz, in his heart, soul and mind, and with every fiber of his being, loves the Constitution and the system of ordered liberty it establishes.
Cruz intends to reverse the ravages of the Obama wrecking ball not through extra-constitutional means, but precisely within the constraints of the Constitution. That's because as a constitutional conservative he understands that the end -- even the noble goal of reversing Obama's destruction -- does not justify any means. We can't blow up the Constitution in the name of saving it. We can't issue lawless executive orders, pass overreaching legislation and implement unconstitutional regulations in furtherance of our agenda. We have to take special care to reverse Obamism through lawful means, lest we just kick the can down the road until the next lawless progressive comes to power to hammer the final nail into this republic's coffin.
There is nothing extreme about Ted Cruz except for his commitment to the American idea, to free enterprise, to ordered liberty, to limited government, to national solvency, to America's national security and sovereignty and to policies designed to unleash robust economic growth to benefit all sectors of society.
There is nothing extreme about Ted Cruz, because there is nothing extreme about Reagan conservatism other than a sincere commitment to reignite America's uniqueness and greatness.
As we've watched this GOP contest unfold, we've seen in Cruz a man under fire from all quarters who has maintained his cool, his dignity, his resolve, his faith, his integrity, his presidential demeanor and his unwavering dedication to restoring America -- the America that we know and love, the shining city on a hill that has been the most benevolent, decent and prosperous nation in history.
Finally, it's important for me to emphasize that I don't idolize Ted Cruz or support him as part of a cult of personality. I support him because I believe he is the best hope for America for the many reasons I've underscored and more.
Oh please I support Cruz but this is at the point of idolatry for David Limbaugh.
Pro Constitution judges.
Vote Cruz.
Trump is leading because:
1) He is the only one who wants to enforce CURRENT immigration laws.
2) He is the only one calling for a pause in Muslim immigration (as Europe is overrun with ISIS rape gangs)
3) He is the only one who wants to bail on TPP and other bad trade treaties.
Until someone else joins him in embracing those positions, he is going to continue leading IMHO.
And let a court that is one vote from castrating the 2dA decide the issue?
It is our responsibility, we shouldn't seek to slough it off.
I guess that why Ted Cruz endorsed Rommney too. Freepers really got to learn really got to learn the infantile snark is not a rational argument for your side.
Nice column by David. Don’t see him on Fox anymore. Use to be he’d be on Hannity every once in awhile. Haven’t seen him on there in ages.
It was the college aged kids that put Obama into office, and enough of them returned to provide him with a second term as well.
Also, changes in voting equipment seem to make it easier for irregularities to occur.
As we all have seen, even here at FR, there are those who would not vote for Cruz, even though they praised Cruz in the past.
So while I like David Limbaugh, this is nothing more than a sales pitch by him for Cruz which he obviously favors. I doubt though that it will sway many, if any, at all.
It will not matter if they embrace your list. Voters are all out of trust for every elected official.
That graphic of the little kid in the big suit often used to symbolize current emperor would fit with Cruz. Cruz = incredible shrinking candidate.
Cruz can’t even win the BLAZE(Beck) poll this morning...he did himself no good last night. He has half of what Trump got, even though they are totally pro Cruz.
http://www.theblaze.com/stories/2016/01/28/blaze-poll-who-won-the-iowa-fox-news-debate/
Trump 53%
Cruz 23%
I don’t buy the birther’s argument.
Here is the thing - Obama had zero record - he had some academic accomplishments on paper and that was about it. He gave good speeches.
Cruz is an accomplished lawyer but that is not the same thing as a leader.
Trump has been an executive for like 40 years now. He knows media and communications (something Cruz struggles with) hence my choice is Trump - especially since he will use his experience to build a wall and destroy PC to profile jihadis.
That's how far dumbed down the electorate is now...as long as they don't miss the next episode of America's Biggest Celebrity Loser, the country can continue the rot.
Yes. Since your obviously have a Trump supporting name. I was trying to have a conversation.
What do you think are Trump’s best qualities and worst qualities?
Many think it is already rotten. Just blow it up. Do not believe it can get any worse.
That graphic of the little kid in the big suit often used to symbolize current emperor would fit with Cruz. Cruz = incredible shrinking candidate.
_______________________________
You nailed it.
I sent Cruz money right out of the gate.
Last 6 months, Ted has become the incredible shrinking candidate.
To know Ted, it to be annoyed by him.
That said, it is bizarre to see Sentorum and Huckabee edging towards Trump in opposition to Cruz. If their objection to Cruz is that he's insufficiently religious, they should be running screaming from Trump. It calls their sincerity into question.
The Huckabee, Santorum, Carson, and Cruz voters should unite. Cruz is probably the strongest horse in that field. If they fail to unite, the tea party/religious right factions will again have self-destructed, and we will probably again end up with a moderate nominee because the conservative factions of the party couldn't get their act together.
The Bush, Kasich, Christie, and Fiorina camps should unite. IMHO, Christie is the strongest of the moderates. YMMV.
The angry people, the crossover Democrats, and the people who want to marginalize religious conservatives in the GOP should stay with Trump.
Rubio is best positioned to triangulate among all these groups, but triangulation will be tricky with passions running as high as they are this year.
This is the most important reason to vote for Ted Cruz. Out of all the candidates, which one would you rather have appointing the next Supreme Court Justices?
Would any conservative really be comfortable letting Trump appoint Supreme Court Justices? The guy who says Hillary always surrounds herself with good people?
I'd rather have Ted Cruz making SCOTUS appointments than anyone else currently running for president.
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