I don't think Trump is undangerous, given historical precedent of narcissistic proto-fascists. I'm somewhat sympathetic to the Andrew Sullivan fears going back to Plato's views on democracy.
Ted Cruz was simply more sophisticated and veiled in what he said.... he used rhetoric to inflame people..... his famous "A vast majority of violent criminals are Democrats" is every bit as "dog whistle" as anything that Trump has said..... he is hinting at economics, race, etc. He has tweeted before things such as "Obama's spending is out of control, does a black man know how to budget?" He has a number of other purposely divisive quotes over the last few years. I don't think that he is in anyway better than Trump.
Even though I think Cruz is the more dangerous of the Republican candidates, I'm still kinda disappointed he's lost. And, I think it's because despite how much I disagree with his values and beliefs, I have a lot of respect for his tenacity, intelligence, and work ethic. That he got beat by a buffoon shooting from the hip is a sorry way to go out. And, it's a shame because after lamenting how Republicans couldn't show respect for their president in the Obama years, I think I can likewise show no respect for the president if Trump wins. Is this what it felt like when Obama won? From reading Mojo, it sounds like it, though that seems so weird to me. If Cruz became president, I could respect him even while I hated him. But, I literally believe Trump is dumber than me. How do you respect someone like that? But, I think it's for the best I guess. Because I think Cruz had a chance at winning in the general, and I don't think Trump will -- though you never know what might happen. This way, we're pretty likely to see Clinton end up as the president and we can dodge those other 2 bullets. I really don't like Clinton and probably won't even vote for her, but it's pretty clear that I'm going to prefer her crooked administration to whatever atrocity Trump would offer.
Okay, and I acknowledge that. I hear you. Thinly veiled, yes. But his supporters weren't openly gut-punching people. To me, there is a visceral difference, but we'll see how this general election goes. Ugh.
I can't respect Cruz's desire to destroy the government and rebuild it in his own vision by any means necessary. It wasn't that he lacked knowledge, it was that he knew enough to be dangerous but not enough to contain the damage. I bet he relished the ensuing damage upon other people.
It really is interesting regarding respect for the office. If you're inclined to think along partisan lines, you'll look for any reason to disrespect the person currently there. But, it's hard for me to think that somebody could look at Barack Obama and think "That guy is stupid." Disagree with him or not, he comes across as intelligent and has the academic pedigree to back that up. The same goes for Ted Cruz; I disagree with almost everything he ran on, but the man is clearly intelligent. You don't clerk for the chief justice of the Supreme Court if you're dumb. When Donald Trump opens his mouth, it sounds like a child fumbling for any answer that sticks. He is so clearly inarticulate and buffoonish. I don't understand people who think he is anything other than a carnival barker. It's almost as if his supporters should be strapped into a Clockwork Orange machine and be forced to watch John Oliver's Trump segment on repeat. You say Hillary's administration could be "corrupt." The idea of a Trump administration is positively terrifying. Would he appoint former Apprentice winners to cabinet positions? Would Ivanka Trump be our next Secretary of State? The government matters and the people voting for this snake oil salesman have no respect for, or idea of, how a country is actually run. Trump hasn't said a single sentence that indicates he understands governance. These are truly uncharted waters.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Over the past 13 months we built a movement. Make no mistake, that movement will continue: <a href="https://t.co/ZEb9WhGRSe">https://t.co/ZEb9WhGRSe</a> <a href="https://t.co/o0ZSkCLy4X">pic.twitter.com/o0ZSkCLy4X</a></p>— Ted Cruz (@tedcruz) <a href="https://twitter.com/tedcruz/status/728332395531796481">May 5, 2016</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> lol
What "movement"? He never articulated any new philosophy or coherent platform. He jumped and grabbed the evangelicals that were being abandoned by the other candidates because they alienated other voters (Republicans included) and were not a big enough voting bloc to win the nomination. Is his movement "hey I can't beat the Republican voters first choice, but I can try to weasel into the nomination"? The more I look at the Cruz campaign and strategic decision made by Cruz, the less I am impressed. He consistently didn't read the voting public. He was out foxed by a political neophyte and it was obvious he boxed himself in as a splinter candidate.
Can we please get a moderate republican that is not some wack job creationist? The Republican party is on life support they catered so long to the Southern bubba vote that they have been over run by these idiots. They need a new Reagan stat before they die out and the wig party makes a comeback. The party of Lincoln is near dead. DD
Republicans had one in Kasich and they weren't even the least bit interested. Kasich would win this election easily.
It's pretty remarkable, actually. Since Trump got into the race, I don't think Jeb, Kasich, Christie, Fiorina, and Graham ever combined for more than 20% or so in any of the polls I saw.
