Cruz's speech last night was cringy and scary. Every time he says (which is every time) "I un-apologetically stand with Israel," oh man it freaks me out.
Nah, they're just like Cruz. His mind is made up before debating the issue. What kind of rational is that?!?! That **** is scary.
I think he still has a credible shot in a contested election. Republicans may be so afraid of Trump that they might actually make a deal with the devil. I regard Cruz as the bigger risk because Cruz will fare better in a general election than Trump will. As popular as Trump may be with 20% of the electorate, I think he'll have all Democrats energized against him and many Republicans not too keen on supporting him. Cruz hasn't been painted in nearly as bad a light, so Republicans will end up rallying around him more. With Rubio out and Kasich not a real candidate, Cruz is the only anti-Trump left. If he can get within striking distance on delegates and he manages his relationship with the Party right (and he's smart, so I think he can and will), they'll serve him the nomination to deny Trump because he has a more plausible path in the general and will at least be an actual Republican as president should he win. I think Cruz is the bigger danger. Trump may push the envelope in bad ways, but we do have some mechanisms to limit the president. And Congress would be happy to use them against Trump. Cruz will also push the limits, but in a true conservative orthodox way that will be harder for Congress to oppose. Imo, the most objectionable things that Trump stands for are shared by Cruz (anti-Muslim, anti-immigrant, pro-war stuff) and the things that make him heterodox (opposing free trade, for example) are objectionable only to republicans. I'd hate to see the Republicans steal the election from Trump only to give it to Cruz. Lol, sort of like the campaign culture in which campaigners think it's okay to photoshop photos of opponents, or tell voters that Carson dropped out when he hadn't? I agree with Cruz here that Trump is responsible for the tenor of his campaign, but at the same time Cruz makes excuses for the tenor of his own campaign.
The RNC and GOP delegates of each States make up the rules shortly before the start of the convention, so they can do away with rules that allow Paul Ryan to be nominated. Now, of course both Trump and Cruz has already said their supporters will revolt for different reasons (Trump losing in at the convention after being way ahead; Cruz facing additional challengers outside of Trump).
Poor Ted. No one in his campaign has the heart to tell him he has no path to the nomination. Not mathematically. Which would require 80% of delegates the rest of the way. Good luck on that! Nor in the slimy backroom deal-making at the convention that would be so befitting of TrustTED. Nope. The GOP will not risk armageddon with the rioter-in-chief to snatch his thrown just so it can hand it to Poor Ted who has shown nothing but contempt for them. The GOP rather use the nuclear option for one of their favorite sons like a Bush, or a Romney, or a Ryan, maybe even a Rubio or a Kasich before they ever got to Poor Ted. Which brings me to the last point. Poor Ted's only option is to hunker down in his southern firewall at the Redneck Country Club and pray that Trump gets distracted into an off-stage WWE-style brawl at the convention so that Poor Ted can slip through the wreckage as the last man standing like a sleazy Vince McMahon because that's only realistic path Poor Ted has to a nomination.
You know how I know Ted Cruz is the crazy one and not Donald Trump? [rquoter] Presidential candidate Cruz appoints Islam critics as advisers ... But the list of advisers drew more attention for its inclusion of several critics of Muslims. Among those were Frank Gaffney, a former official in the Reagan administration, and at least two other members of a think tank Gaffney founded, the Center for Security Policy. ... The Southern Poverty Law Center, a civil rights organization that monitors U.S. extremist groups, has labeled the Center for Security Policy a "hate group" and Gaffney a "notorious Islamophobe."[/rquoter]
It appears that Marco Rubio is on the verge of endorsing Ted Cruz. In case any of his supporters are concerned about lingering bad blood between the two, that does not appear to be the case. They exchanged blows during the campaign, as is the typical American way, albiet with more name-calling by Rubio than is customary. But Trump was already doing it and Rubio clearly was well aware that Cruz's attacks against Rubio's record on immigration, especially the gang of eight fiasco, was likely to be his undoing. Anyway, Rubio literally pulled out all the stops against Cruz and still had to withdraw. He did the best he could. I wouldn't be surprised to see Rubio change his mind in the next two years about running for Florida governor, though.
Rubio hasn't done a single thing smart or well this campaign. He has damaged his name and standing to a level that he is unlikely to ever recover from. So why would a Cruz endorsement be any different. I cannot think of a major candidate ever having been as completely emasculated as Rubio.
All I can figure is that Cruz promised Rubio a job if he somehow gets elected. Marco could use a job.
Why would it be ok to stand behind a nation "no matter what" ? Thats dangerous thinking. "Unapologetically"---its almost as if like he knows that they'll **** up (like everyone does) and will justify it in his twisted mind. I'm sure even Dejji will agree with me on this, and he's lived there.
Cruz would need 80% of delegates to reach 1237, I'm sure he knows that. Trump would need like 58%. Most likely nobody gets to 1237. Still 20+ states haven't voted and some are even winner-take-all. Cruz has a shot (somewhat of a long shot given how far behind he is, even longer shot for Kasich) to enter the convention with more delegates than Trump (or be neck and neck).
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Other than that Rubio doesn't really have any base or supporters outside of the "establishment" punditocracy, a fact that was made painfully clear by his succesion of bronze medals...this is EXCELLENT NEWS for TED CRUZ
Cruz will lose hard core immigration voters if he even sniffs at a Rubio VP nom. Teaming up with the Gang of Eight star? ok....
Not to say that Ted Cruz isn't crazy, but the SPLC labels everyone and everything a hate group. In fact, were I someone with a recognizable name, that sentence I just typed would likely lead to them labeling me as part of a hate group.
Cruz is not going to pick Rubio for VP. Why would he, because Rubio is Hispanic? Republicans and most Americans with any good sense clearly are not moved by that identity politics garbage the way that leftist Democrats are. And besides, Cruz is also Hispanic. Otherwise, Rubio is from the South, he is a Senator and he is young, all characteristics which also Cruz shares. No, Cruz needs to pick someone who compliments his background and skills a little more. A much better choice would be New Jersey Governor Chris Christie, an establishment North East moderate who is not a complete and total squish on issues like law enforcement and national security. I think he is getting ready to be term-limited out in New Jersey. And among the governors, in my opinion he was far and away the best choice for president. It would just be a wild guess, but if I had to guess, it would be Cruz/Christie, for the win.
