There are a lot of Republican voters looking at Cruz and his response to this whole thing and wondering just exactly what the hell he is doing. I'm EXTREMELY disappointed a Republican candidate would stoop to this type of dirty politics. When Bob Dole (the Senate Majority leader under Reagan) says Cruz is dangerous for the party, I pay attention. And then THIS crap happens. I think I'd almost prefer Trump over Cruz at this point. He's an idiot...but he's not dirty.
Yeah, the establishment hates him and of course the establishment howlers on cable news. We get that. In any case, this is not an issue that will last through the weekend, and maybe not to the weekend. Certainly by the time the New Hampshire primary vote comes in, this will be gone and forgotten. Watch and see.
Who the hell is the "establishment"? As far as I can tell apparently it means people who don't like Cruz? I keep hearing this crap thrown around all the time. They are calling Rubio "establishment". In 2010, Rubio was the Tea Party candidate who defeated Charlie Crist. Now suddenly he's "establishment"? Every time I hear Cruz whine about the "Washington Cartel" or "Establishment" I just roll my eyes.
You make a good point about Rubio. However, because of Rubio's efforts to author an amnesty bill with the gang of eight, he now is closely allied with the Republican establishment in the Senate. His history on the immigration issue has already hurt him badly and will continue to do so, as this is surely one of the most important issues to Republican voters this year. Also, as the establishment sorts line up to endorse and support Marco Rubio, and as the cable news media is already strongly supporting him as their preferred candidate, he is going to be clearly marked by these associations, and he will be defined as the "establishment" candidate as a result of those associations. I agree that he is kind of a hybrid candidate right now. But based on his past actions on immigration and the many establishment supporters who are going to be lining up in the near future to support him, he is almost certainly going to be defined by this very damaging and unpopular label. It is a scarlet letter he will have to wear and win with, if he can.
They line up to support him because he's electable and can appeal to independents, women, minorities and other voters in the middle who are the key to winning the election. That doesn't make him establishment. It makes him the better candidate. Can Cruz make that claim? Can Trump? Those 2 scare the HELL out of the groups I just mentioned. Meanwhile, Cruz is just as "establishment" as Rubio. They are both 1 term senators elected as Tea Party conservatives. The label is dumb and those that fall for the label aren't very bright.
I'm sorry but I don't really see how anyone can support Cruz after seeing the way he ran his campaign in Iowa. He's no different than the "Washington Cartel" he b****es about and he proved that in Iowa by pulling out every dirty trick in the book just to try and secure the win. A persons true character comes out in moments like that and I think everyone saw it. There's a reason why no one likes him and it's not because he's some outsider trying to shake things up.
Fun to watch this latest instance of Cruz's lack of integrity unfold. He gets called for it... his supporters (both here and on Fox) cry out foul, accuse those you point out his deceit as "liars", and blame the critics for Cruz's causing Cruz's act. Then when its proven out that Cruz did it, they pivot into minimizing mode, saying it will be soon forgotten, and calling it a, what was the term, oh yes, a "kerfuffle". All the while attacking the other candidates...
the Ben Carson campaign is a giant scam, they've burned through all their money <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">SCOOP: BEN CARSON cuts 50+ staffers as funds dry up <a href="https://t.co/RnH439i7EF">https://t.co/RnH439i7EF</a></p>— Robert Costa (@costareports) <a href="https://twitter.com/costareports/status/695247405898424320">February 4, 2016</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
All this talk about "establishment" in this thread and the mainstream media are misguided. Here are the facts: 1. Jeb Bush is the only establishment candidate in this race. 2. Marco Rubio is the hard to swallow morning-after pill or Plan B. 3. Ted Cruz is the fringe lunatic everyone loves to hate. 4. And finally Donald Trump is running for head inmate at the asylum.
He started so strong and now it is coming apart at the seams, right in front of his eyes. I cannot imagine running for office at this level. The stress must be immense. I feel for Ben Carson. I really do. But as harsh as it may be, the end of his campaign appears to be near. He is clearly upset and agitated by that. I am pretty sure that most of us would be too, especially after being the apparent leader of this race just two months ago.
Yeah, I feel like that effect is the extreme fringe of the right just moving the goalposts over and over. They just keep lumping their enemies in with "Washington establishment" and friends with the "liberal media," even if both are demonstrably false. Like you, I have always respected Bob Dole, even when I disagreed with him. At least he had a sense of humor and was dedicated more to his country than his own career. Hard to say that about many politicians now.
Could very well be true, but what does that have to do with Cruz? Is it okay to play dirty and/or dishonest politics if your opponent is incompetent? LOL.
Yeah it is interesting that you bring up that angle about the establishment. Since the substantial majority of the Republican electorate regards the Republican establishment as our enemy, which they hold in open contempt, the Republican establishment politicians are trying to push the idea that there is no establishment, as they cannot think of any other way to try to disassociate themselves from this potentially career ending identification. You are not the first person in this thread to introduce these talking points. This kind of stuff works well with the Democrat left, who are apparently devout believers in conformity and adherence to political correctness, including voting for candidates based on "identity politics" criteria, as they did when they voted for Obama in 2008 and 2012, and as they appear poised to do this year with Hillary Clinton. But this kind of brazenly manipulative propagandic nonsense is absurd to the vast majority of conservatives and the right. Anyway, the die has been cast and the mold has been laid. Deny the existence of these vile deceivers, traitors and cowards all you like. Republican voters know who they are and they are confident they know who their patsies are in the Republican field this year, talking points insisting that no such people exist, notwithstanding. And yes, Democrats like Hillary Clinton are part of their own establishment too. But we can talk about that another time, in another thread.
Wrong the evidence is in plain exhibit. CNN posted two tweets one right after the other, not one as a follow up. Cruz is lying about it. He's a liar, and for whatever reason you are choosing to swallow his lies. That's up to you, but it doesn't change the facts. Those facts show that Cruz, lied, and try to weasel some more delegates with his misrepresentation.
Hardcore right wing talking points: 1) If you aren't Ted Cruz you are "establishment" 2) If you are establishment then you aren't "really" conservative 3) If you think poor people are poor because of any other reason than laziness then you are a RHINO 4) If you vote for a black person (unless they are hardcore conservative) it is only because they are black 5) If you vote for a woman (unless they are hardcore conservative) it is only because they are a woman Why did Obama win? Because he was black! If Hillary Clinton wins, why would it be? Because she's a woman!
Actually Cruz has reversed course and now says CNN got it right. So anyone who parroted his claims that CNN was to blame should feel foolish. Day 1: Cruz denies it happened End of Day 1: Cruz says it happened, apologizes but blames CNN for bad reporting Day 2: Fox News goes after CNN calling for "accountability" for whoever gave the "false" report, editing on air clips of Dana Bash to cut out where she gives the full story and only reporting part of the news on twitter. Cruz spends the day blaming CNN for their false report. End of Day 2: Cruz backtracks on his apology, says this is normal campaign strategy, admits CNN reported accurately and goes back to "our people didn't do anything wrong." LOL?
