Posted on 02/11/2016 7:57:59 AM PST by SeekAndFind
You can read his extended comments at his website. A Twitter pal tagged me this afternoon after Rush said this and claimed that he’d just endorsed Cruz; Redditors are interpreting it the same way. It does seem to follow logically that the biggest name in conservative talk radio, who’s been preaching Reagan conservatism to millions for 30 years, is dropping an endorsement when he calls a candidate the next best thing to Reagan himself. (Rush quasi-endorsed Mitt Romney in the 2008 primary in a similar way, complimenting him as the only Republican candidate who represented all three legs of the conservative stool.) But I assume Rush himself will deny that tomorrow, partly because he doesn’t formally endorse candidates in primaries and partly because of the noteworthy caveat he drops here:
They were going left as fast as Deion Sanders can backpedal. They were moving left faster than anybody I’ve ever seen go left. And I opened the program yesterday saying, “You will never, ever have to worry about that with Ted Cruz.” And then I expanded on it. And let me say one thing: If conservatism is your bag, if conservatism is the dominating factor in how you vote, there is no other choice for you in this campaign than Ted Cruz, because you are exactly right: This is the closest in our lifetimes we have ever been to Ronald Reagan.
In terms of doctrinaire, understandable, articulated, implementable conservatism, there’s nobody closer. But I think the electorate at this point in time… We don’t know, Brian. If you look at Trump’s coalition, there’s a lot of assumptions being made about it, because he’s running as a Republican and in the Republican primary, and it’s assumed the Republican base is who’s voting here. Therefore, it’s assumed the majority of Trump’s coalition’s conservatives. And there are a lot.
But he’s broad. He’s all over the spectrum.
That’s the last eight months of Trumpmania and talk radio synthesized in one bit of audio. We’ve got the truest conservative candidate since Reagan in the race this year, which, one would think, would merit some sort of enthusiastic endorsement — but Rush puts the brakes on. Cruz is the candidate you should support if “conservatism is your bag.” At best, it’s a qualified endorsement. Hearing that on his show of all places, that you may want to consider this or that if you’re into conservatism, is like hearing someone on the NFL Network say you may want to consider this or that if you’re into football. On the one hand, he’s simply recognizing reality: As he himself recently said, for some people (although not for him) “nationalism and populism have overtaken conservatism in terms of appeal.” True enough. For those people, Trump’s the guy. On the other hand, Cruz is facing a primary in 10 days that may very well decide the fate of the Republican nomination. Given the stakes there, with South Carolina forced to choose between a true-blue disciple of Reagan and a populist who seems capable of smashing the Republican coalition, the vote on February 20th is arguably the most momentous night the conservative movement will have experienced since 1980. If talk radio, which has been preaching conservative populism since the Reagan era, wants to give Cruz a boost over the nationalist Trump, now would seem to be the time. The fact that the quasi-endorsement comes with a qualifier anyway — vote Cruz, if conservatism’s your thing — feels like a bad sign. Just one more reason why I think Trump’s a heavy favorite for the nomination.
Actually, there’s another significant element to this clip. Would Rush praise Cruz quite so effusively, implicitly elevating him over Rubio (and everyone else) in terms of his conservative credentials, if he thought Rubio was still a plausible nominee? Remember, Rush has had warm words for Rubio lately, defending him as a bona fide conservative despite attacks on Rubio from the right that he’s some establishment water carrier. If Rubio had finished a strong second last night, creating a three-way race with Trump and Cruz, Rush might have felt obliged to hedge on Cruz being Reagan’s true heir or even included Rubio in the praise. Some of this, I think, is him bowing to the reality that, at least for the moment, Cruz is the only game in town if you want to stop Trump before he’s unstoppable.
>>>Rush Limbaugh is toast....no burnt toast!!!
Right place is garbage bin.
Cruz has an awful ad using kids to bash Trump
If this guy represents Christian ethics there needs to be a reformation.
Ted Millhouse Cruz is SLIMEY. What has he accomplished in the Senate?
Rush, I listened to you for over 20 years, NO LONGER YOU ARE UNMASKED. Rush said Amnesty Pimp Rubio is a conservative HA?
Cruz is all over the place on Amnesty, just look at the Bret Bair interview where Cruz could square his actions with his rhetoric on Amnesty.
Yeah, let’s settle for second best, b/c Ted can’t win. Just like all the experts told us that REAGAN could not win, and Juan and Milt COULD!
You make my point. The only way for Cruz to be effective is continue his authoritarian ways like a dictator.
Cruz’s fatal flaw is he won’t be able to build an effective team. He’s never done that. Ted’s an obstructionist. In contrast you cannot sign paychecks for 30,000 people in a 10+ billion company with out team building skills.
The idea team or consensus building means “caving in” is false. Trump will lead the democrats by their nose rings to do what he wants them to do just like he does the media. That is called leadership. It’s something we haven’t seem for so long most don’t recognize it fore what it is. That is not Trump’s fault.
Cruz is acceptable to the GOPe, Trump is not. Another reason to vote Trump, screw the R wing of the uniparty.
Oh please. What an astounding insult to Reagan. If Cruz is the “closest” then it is time to pack it in.
To paraphrase gladiator: YOU know Reagan?! No, he only touched me on the shoulder.
But I can’t help being a little jealous...
Cruz is a lot closer to Reagan than that spoiled brat cry baby Trump who keeps sucking up to KGB/FSB Putin.
Ronald Reagan: "Mr Gorbachev, tear down this wall!
Donald Trump: Vladimir Putin's praise is 'a great honor'...It is always a great honor to be so nicely complimented by a man so highly respected within his own country and beyond ,"
(Excerpt) Read more at finance.yahoo.com ...
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"I think that I would probably get along with him [Putin] very well."
--Donald Trump, CBS' Face The Nation, Oct 2015
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Joe Scarborough: Again, he [Putin] kills journalists that don't agree with him
Trump: Well, I think our country does plenty of killing also, Joe, so, you know. There's a lot of stupidity going on in the world right now, Joe. Lot of killing going on, a lot of stupidity, and that's the way it is.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3365976/At-s-leader-Trump-s-extraordinary-verdict-Vladimir-Putin-two-cozy-up.html
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"50 years is enough," Trump said in an interview with the Daily Caller published Tuesday, referring to Obama's decision to re-establish U.S. ties with Cuba.
"I think it's fine. I think it's fine, but we should have made a better deal," Trump added. "The concept of opening with Cuba is fine."
http://www.cnn.com/2015/09/08/politics/donald-trump-cuba-diplomatic-opening/index.html
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Here's Trump giving his support to the traitor-in-chief on his worldwide apology tour...
TRUMP [on the Larry King Show (2009), referring to the then newly elected communist president (Obama)]: "Well, I really like him. I think that he's working very hard. He's trying to rebuild our reputation throughout the world. I mean, we really have lost a lot of reputation in the world. The previous administration [GW Bush] was a total disaster, a total catastrophe."
And I'm not saying I agree with everything he's doing. I do agree with what they're doing with the banks. Whether they FUND THEM or NATIONALIZE them, it doesn't matter, but you have to keep the banks going."
http://www.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0904/15/lkl.01.html
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Meanwhile (among many other things) ...
How Russia arms America's southern neighbors
Ioan Grillo
May 9, 2014
RIO DE JANEIRO, Brazil -- Russia's push into Ukraine has put many on edge. But less known is that Russia is also strengthening its military links south of the Rio Grande and re-establishing itself as a power in the region. ..."
http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/news/regions/americas/140508/russian-arms-military-trade-latin-america
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Russia Boosts Arms, Training for Leftist Latin Militaries
Moscow defense minister inks deals with Cuba, Venezuela, Nicaragua for joint exercises
BY: Bill Gertz
February 20, 2015
Russia agreed to provide military training for three leftist regimes in Latin America and increase military visits and exercises following a visit last week to the region by Moscow's Defense Minister Sergei Shoygu, Pentagon officials said. ..."
http://freebeacon.com/national-security/russia-boosts-arms-training-for-leftist-latin-militaries/
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Russia Ramping Up Military Drills to Cold War Levels, NATO Says
Feb 5, 2016 - FoxNews.com
Russia has stepped up its military maneuvers to a level unseen since the height of the Cold War, according to a new report released by NATO Thursday.
Jens Stoltenberg, the alliance's secretary general and author of the report, noted that Moscow has conducted at least 18 large-scale exercises over the past three years, "some of which have involved more than 100,000 troops."
Those exercises included several simulated nuclear attacks against NATO allies and partner nations ..."
After Schwarzenegger I swore I’d never listen to the ‘but he’s unelectable’ argument again.
Rush said Rubio is a true conservative in the mold of Ronald Reagan. Sorry but that is what he said a few days ago.
Reagan had charm. Reagan, while maybe distrusted on certain issues wasn't disliked. Reagan could lead. Reagan would compromise. And yes, Reagan could hold his ground.
Other than holding his ground, Cruz display none of the other characteristics.
If Ted’s apologetics for freedom can’t beat the criminal or the nut, America is finished. I’d rather know now. ANY GOP nominee will be mocked. Don’t settle for a man who will nominate liberals to our courts, Donald Trump. He has been such a phony with his family Bible and vicious attacks on former “great people” and “friends”.
RE: Cruz is acceptable to the GOPe, Trump is not.
Actually, BOTH are hated by the GOPe. It can in fact be argued that Trump would be more acceptable.
I think you are talking about barak obummer right?
Strange..... when I click your name it says account has been banned or suspended. Never seen that before from someone still posting.
I may be alone here but I don’t listen for what drips from Rush’s lips every day. I think he’s entertaining and certainly thought-provoking but I’m not a devotee. I don’t look to him to help me make up my mind about anything. Actually, there is no media figure that I blindly follow.
I listen, take what he says as his opinion and that’s it. I think of Rush like I think of fellow Freepers. He has no further power than that in my life.
Many people are easily duped. The left never settles for someone conservatives insist is “acceptable”, but GOPers are more malleable.
To compare anyone, especially Ted Cruz to RR is sacrilege.
Looks like I’m banned too.
RE: Rush said Rubio is a true conservative in the mold of Ronald Reagan.
Other than immigration ( which in fact, we can argue that his support of a path to legalization is SIMILAR to Reagan’s ), Can you show us in what way he differes from Reagan on the issues?
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