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What Went Wrong for Ted Cruz
Weekly Standard ^ | May 04, 2016 | Fred Barnes

Posted on 05/04/2016 4:56:00 AM PDT by Magnatron

What happened to Ted Cruz? A month ago, he won the Wisconsin primary in a landslide and was poised to combat Donald Trump with a fresh burst of enthusiasm. Now he's out of the race and Trump is the presumptive Republican presidential nominee.

Things happened in two cycles, some in recent weeks and others that plagued his campaign from the beginning. As Trump said last night, Cruz is tough and smart. But he made big mistakes as a presidential candidate.

(Excerpt) Read more at weeklystandard.com ...


TOPICS: Editorial; Government; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: 2016gopprimary; blunders; cruz; cruz2016; cuddlyasaroach; election; miserablefailure; nocharisma; nomination; slimeysleaze; trump
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To: Magnatron
I disagree with Barnes in that Cruz can afford to come in third or just simply top five in the early state primaries, as long as he's in the top tier. He could concentrate in those southern states that tend to be more friendly to him.

And I agree with Barnes that Cruz didn't sell himself well, the points Americans care most about (jobs and border security) he clearly couldn't compete with Trump.

As for Cruz's mistakes, one of them has got to be for voters to see him as 'just another typical politician' with process maneuvering, resulted in (Barnes' last paragraph) -

"By the way, Cruz's worst fear was realized in Indiana. He lost the bloc of "very" and "somewhat" conservative voters to Trump."

21 posted on 05/04/2016 5:22:24 AM PDT by Sir Napsalot (Pravda + Useful Idiots = CCCP; JournOList + Useful Idiots = DopeyChangey!)
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To: Magnatron

We can only hope Trump turns out to be so strong and advocate of RKBA as Cruz was. One of only 4 Senators rated “A+” by Gunowners of America.


22 posted on 05/04/2016 5:23:20 AM PDT by donozark (I was cruisin' with Cruz. Now travelin' with Trump.)
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To: Magnatron

It’s really a moot point now but here it is:

Solid South (not)
Glenn Beck (insane)
Colorado and the “process” war
Carly VP charade.


23 posted on 05/04/2016 5:23:32 AM PDT by Gaffer
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To: Magnatron
Cruz's self-importance is off-putting and he speaks like he's reciting the Gettysburg Address.

He is extremely unlikable.

24 posted on 05/04/2016 5:25:09 AM PDT by RoosterRedux
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To: Magnatron

Cruz demonstrated he was the consummate politician - his delegate strategy - in a time when the nation is fed up with politicians. After 8 years of a Øbama following 6 years of lame duck Bush, America was looking for a leader. That was not Ted Cruz.


25 posted on 05/04/2016 5:25:25 AM PDT by NonValueAdded ("He's a winner in the process of winning. People like that." Scott Adams)
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To: Magnatron

Cozying up to the Bushes said a lot about defeated.


26 posted on 05/04/2016 5:25:32 AM PDT by mad_as_he$$
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To: LuvFreeRepublic

“For many of us who started out being Cruz supporters and then got on the Trump Train, Cruz’s problems started long before the NY primary”

I bailed when I saw him ceding the stage to Trump last fall and letting him do the hard work.

If you aren’t going to get into the scrum, then people will go for the guy that is.


27 posted on 05/04/2016 5:25:59 AM PDT by VanDeKoik (Viral v)
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To: Magnatron

His phony drama theatrical delivery and whinny nasally voice always bothered me but nail in coffin, for me, was when his father started calling him ordained by God.


28 posted on 05/04/2016 5:26:44 AM PDT by RetSignman (Obama is the walking, talking middle finger in the face of America)
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To: LuvFreeRepublic

As a Christian who tries to be sincere about it to the Lord, I repeatedly prayed for wisdom to prevail in the race. The more I learned about Ted Cruz, the more pretentious he seemed in the spiritual realm. Donald might also have a lot of puffery in the worldly realm, but at least it’s only worldly. He’s not getting in God’s face. He hasn’t kept up a blasphemy.

And that’s another excellent point. A president should try to be decent and wise. But he shouldn’t presume to be America’s godfather and we shouldn’t be looking to him or her for that. Churches can and should be talking independently of the world of faith and morality and salvation and such issues, whether or not earthly governments agree.


29 posted on 05/04/2016 5:29:49 AM PDT by HiTech RedNeck (Embrace the Lion of Judah and He will roar for you and teach you to roar too. See my page.)
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To: VanDeKoik
He was never more than a Regional Candidate who used Trump to hide is trade deals

He wanted to keep it off issues. The last debate he lied question after question.

I personally think he fooled Rush and Levin.

How far would had had made it without the #Never Trump money and Support? 147 Million in Pac Money

30 posted on 05/04/2016 5:30:26 AM PDT by scooby321 (o even lower)
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To: Magnatron

I would add that Trump succeeded in convincing people that he took the mantle of ‘anti-establishment’ from Cruz, and miraculously somehow managed to paint Cruz as a GOPe. That was quite an accomplishment. Also, Trump is a counterpuncher - he went after any serious contender and attacked their strengths. Bush championed his steadiness and quietness and Trump turned it into ‘low energy’. Rubio championed his underdog role and ‘a lot of fight in a small dog’, and Trump negated it with ‘Little Marko’. Cruz championed his honesty and integrity, and Constitutional Strength - Trump turned him into ‘Lyin Ted’ and part of the Establishment. It stuck and killed his campaign of momentum. None of these candidates had ever been exposed like this. The next fight, however, will be different. What could Trump ever say about Hillary Clinton that has not already been said? On the other hand, Trump cringed at the least amount of criticism from his opponents, even to the point of boycotting debates when he was asked tough questions. I get a sense that he is the candidate that the Democrats have been praying for. They have a ton of unexposed dirt that they will drop on him like a nuclear weapon. He has been covered by a compliant media so far, but only because he was good for their ratings and profit. Now the game will change to attack, because that will be even better for their ratings...In sailor terms, we have a red sky on the horizon this morning...


31 posted on 05/04/2016 5:33:42 AM PDT by richardtavor
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To: RetSignman; All

Speaking of Papa Cruz, I saw someone speculating yesterday about Trump’s mention of Oswald/JFK, wondering if it was a “warning” to the elder Cruz that he should perhaps get his son to stand down to prevent further public discussion of that topic. I don’t know if that’s feasible but it sure makes you wonder.


32 posted on 05/04/2016 5:34:54 AM PDT by Nita Nupress
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To: Magnatron

I would add that Trump succeeded in convincing people that he took the mantle of ‘anti-establishment’ from Cruz, and miraculously somehow managed to paint Cruz as a GOPe. That was quite an accomplishment. Also, Trump is a counterpuncher - he went after any serious contender and attacked their strengths. Bush championed his steadiness and quietness and Trump turned it into ‘low energy’. Rubio championed his underdog role and ‘a lot of fight in a small dog’, and Trump negated it with ‘Little Marko’. Cruz championed his honesty and integrity, and Constitutional Strength - Trump turned him into ‘Lyin Ted’ and part of the Establishment. It stuck and killed his campaign of momentum. None of these candidates had ever been exposed like this. The next fight, however, will be different. What could Trump ever say about Hillary Clinton that has not already been said? On the other hand, Trump cringed at the least amount of criticism from his opponents, even to the point of boycotting debates when he was asked tough questions. I get a sense that he is the candidate that the Democrats have been praying for. They have a ton of unexposed dirt that they will drop on him like a nuclear weapon. He has been covered by a compliant media so far, but only because he was good for their ratings and profit. Now the game will change to attack, because that will be even better for their ratings...In sailor terms, we have a red sky on the horizon this morning...


33 posted on 05/04/2016 5:35:26 AM PDT by richardtavor
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To: Magnatron

What went wrong with lyn’ted? He exists. Please...stay home, go away.


34 posted on 05/04/2016 5:35:49 AM PDT by connyankee (Cannot stand Fox News. A pack of wolves, they be.)
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To: richardtavor
I would add that Trump succeeded in convincing people that he took the mantle of ‘anti-establishment’ from Cruz, and miraculously somehow managed to paint Cruz as a GOPe.

I disagree, Cruz did that to himself.
35 posted on 05/04/2016 5:38:49 AM PDT by PJBankard
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To: Magnatron

What went wrong????

Well for starters......

Being born in Canada to a Bat-shite crazy Cuban Father.

Having a North American Union supporting wife.

A Senate voting record that enables both the above and other Globalist agenda items (TPA and TPP)

Wearing the Bible on his sleeve.

Lying 24/7 about almost everything.....

there’s more....


36 posted on 05/04/2016 5:44:02 AM PDT by Forty-Niner (The barely bare, berry Bear formily known as Ursus Arctos Horrilibis (or U.A. Californicus))
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To: VanDeKoik

Agree. Cruz did let Trump do the hard work and when the dust settled, Cruz adopted Trump’s positions. Little weasel.


37 posted on 05/04/2016 5:44:41 AM PDT by LuvFreeRepublic
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To: Magnatron

“This backfired. Voters tend to be uninterested in campaign process. Worse, Trump insisted the nomination fight was “rigged” because delegates were being chosen undemocratically, without the assent of voters. Trump exploited this issue successfully for days.”

I don’t think Trump exploited the situation in Colorado as much as he exposed the corruption. Being able to bribe delegates and have them ignore the will of the voter, much less not even let people vote first, reeks of 3rd world politics.

Trump exposed the corruption, and he’s not even elected yet! (this has TPTB terrified.) Look for backroom deals trying to dismantle Trump and push Hillary. Just like with the primaries, the people need to stand firm with Trump no matter that the politicians and donors of either party do.


38 posted on 05/04/2016 5:45:04 AM PDT by CottonBall
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To: JudyinCanada

I think you’re right. I wonder if women saw through Cruz first because we tend to focus on personality and men tend to focus on the ideas of a candidate. That’s ok, but when you miss that a person is actually pretty slimy in tone and actions, it makes his ideas less important.


39 posted on 05/04/2016 5:47:08 AM PDT by miss marmelstein (Richard the Third: With my own people alone I should like to drive away the Turks (Muslims))
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To: Magnatron; All



Congratulation Donald!

What a pleasure it will be to have an American president and an all American family who love their country in our White House!

Image and video hosting by TinyPic

Now we must all forget the fighting and bitterness,unite and support Donald.
We CANNOT afford another four years of Democrats in power. Obama has all but destroyed America. Another four years of a Democrat in the White House will finish us.

Donald will make America great- and respected again!


40 posted on 05/04/2016 5:47:32 AM PDT by patriot08 (5th generation Texan ...(girl type) Run the slimy Canadian lawyer= HELLO HILLARY!)
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