The issue, I think, is that in this case, magnitude is not something that can be easily examined objectively. What one person sees as horribly schismed, another can see in a different way, especially since politics is so largely subjective.
Here are my thoughts. Again, this is subjective.
Cruz was in public office, where his ‘positions’ affected huge swaths of people, and so the effects of one ‘inconsistency’ or just a mistake or a lie is magnified much more. Especially for a Senator whose votes affect the entire nation. So his taking support from Jeb’s people lately, and the TPA morass, and calling himself anti-establishment when he’s been doing government work most of his career tend to stick out more.
As for Trump? Most of the inconsistencies that people have been bringing up are often inaccurately reported, and those that he HAS changed on did not have much if any effect on any people other than himself and his family, or potentially his workers. Now that he is looking at public office, he’s having to look at himself and stake out positions that weren’t as important before, and so he could afford to ignore them or not think overly hard. I’ve lived in NYC, and I know how easy it is to just go with the flow of social liberalism just because everyone else is talking about it, especially when you’re trying to concentrate on your job instead of politics.
It’s also easier for me to excuse because Trump owns his past, while Cruz has tried to hide his.
It may be easier to explain my thought processes if we try to go item by item. If you want me to do that, tell me where to start.
It is nice to finally get Trump to add some details on various issues, so that he can be held to some of these stands. I like to know or be able to predict where a candidate will stand and I haven't seen a consistent pattern with Trump yet. Cruz has stated his standard is the Constitution and can be held to that.
I don't see Cruz's changes in positions as major and I can live with those. Trump's positions have changed so significantly and even the party he identifies with (Rep->Ind->Dem->Rep->Dem->Rep) that it is hard for me to trust.
We don't have to get into issues, unless you want to bring up something specific. We aren't likely to change each others views and will probably end up agreeing to disagree.