Sen. Ted Cruz Makes It Official

[deacon blues]

Cruz moves up to 18% into 3rd place!

[Pressing-On]

Originally Posted by deacon blues

Cruz moves up to 18% into 3rd place!

Actually, that would make him tied with Carson for 2nd. Cruz moved up 8pts and Carson moved down 8pts.

Of course, not putting a lot of confidence in polling, and we have a way to go before the first primary. It's undeniable that Cruz is rising, and we see that Carson is losing support among the evangelicals. He is very weak on foreign policy and that is a very big deal.

Now, to the the poll, it largely has "lean" Independents and Democrats. It just means that these people are commenting, not being registered. So, while I like the confidence in Cruz, register to vote and I will listen to your arguments one way or the other. Otherwise, put a lid on it.

I don't see how Trump is sitting at the top. He lies and says he never said what he is quoted as saying. LOL! For instance, that he didn't support a Muslim database. He did say that he favored it. He denied that he called Rubio, "Zuckerberg’s Personal Senator", when he did say it. It was on his website. He said he didn't know who the Club for Growth was, when he knows who they are. He makes me very uncomfortable the longer this goes on. It doesn't seem to bother him to lie and brush it off as nothing. I don't like that at all.

I read an article today at Red State, you might be interested in reading. The columnist liking Cruz, but still supporting Rubio. The comments responding to the article were much better in support of Cruz - not because he is my candidate - but, because they were more factual and solid, addressing some real points why Cruz is the better candidate. Here is one of the comments, (great rebuttal) comparing the record of both:

Is Ted Cruz the next Goldwater or the next Reagan?
http://www.redstate.com/diary/canten.../11/19/255358/

standwithted

The argument against a Cruz nomination is a superficial one. "He can't win". There is no way to prove this until we have a campaign and we have an election. If the Trump phenomenon has proven anything it's that these "he can't win" notions are entirely baseless. And in fact, there are a number of polls showing Cruz beating Hillary by, in some cases, double digits (see latest Quinnipiac in Colorado) at this moment. But again, campaigns affect polls and we can't deduce winners/losers until an election is held. A lot can and does change over the course of a campaign. Cruz has all the tools as a candidate to win and the right climate to succeed. That much is certain.

But let's talk about Rubio. What is the argument for a Rubio presidency? If it's Rubio simply because "Ted can't win", that's not much of a case. My biggest hangups with Rubio:

1) He has already lied to us once. He said one thing while campaigning on immigration then did the opposite when he got into office. Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me. If we want a government that more faithfully represents us and governs with the consent of the governed, then we need to stop rewarding lying politicians like Rubio and stop sending them back into government.

2) What has he done with his time in office? Other than Gang of 8, he has been markedly absent from all the big fights on issues important to conservatives. He has been completely invisible for almost 6 years. If he wasn't willing to stick his neck out and fight for us in the Senate, what makes anyone think he'll behave differently as POTUS? Will he suddenly discover courage? Doubtful.

3) What has he accomplished outside of government? Republicans criticized Obama for being a remarkably unaccomplished man - he had a very thin resume. We should hold Republicans to the same standard. Both Cruz and Rubio earned Juris Doctor degrees - Cruz from Harvard Law and Rubio from University of Miami.

Apart from the difference in academic pedigree, Rubio went into government almost immediately. Cruz by contrast practiced law. He clerked for Justice Rhenquist, became a partner in a constitutional law firm, litigated important cases before SCOTUS - and won - on issues that matter to conservatives. If you listen/read the oral arguments Cruz made in some of these cases, you will see the kind of towering intellect Cruz has. When liberal Alan Dershowitz described Cruz as one the smartest students he's ever taught at Harvard Law, you'll understand why.

Rubio by contrast has never been successful outside of government. He has never demonstrated any sort of exceptionalism. He's in this respect exactly like Obama was. A charismatic guy with a very thin resume who speaks really well. But this has never been enough for Republicans. We believe in meritocracy.
For a good sense of the difference between these two men, just compare the biographies of Rubio and Cruz (they are available on senate.gov). It's no contest. Rubio is at best an average guy. He could have easily been a used car salesman. Cruz on the other hand has achieved things that few people have the intellect, the will or the skill to achieve. That makes him worthy of the office of the presidency. That makes him worthy of the nomination. And it makes him unquestionably worthy of representing conservatives before the nation.

[Pressing-On]

Originally Posted by Jason Badejo

Does the King endorsement help Cruz in Iowa?
Can Cruz win Iowa?

Wanted to give you something concrete on this, concerning your questions.

Steve King boosts Ted Cruz in Sioux City event

SIOUX CITY | Republican presidential candidate Ted Cruz on Friday said he's seen considerable support from Iowans for his candidacy in the five days since U.S. Rep. Steve King, R-Iowa, endorsed him.

http://siouxcityjournal.com/ap/no_ca...991711aea.html

[Jason B]

Originally Posted by Pressing-On

Wanted to give you something concrete on this, concerning your questions.

Steve King boosts Ted Cruz in Sioux City event

SIOUX CITY | Republican presidential candidate Ted Cruz on Friday said he's seen considerable support from Iowans for his candidacy in the five days since U.S. Rep. Steve King, R-Iowa, endorsed him.

http://siouxcityjournal.com/ap/no_ca...991711aea.html

That's good. So Iowa is the first primary or New Hampshire? What's the difference in a caucus and primary? And how many states matter? Seems like last time by the time the 4th state was done Romney was the nominee.

[Originalist]

Originally Posted by Pressing-On

I don't see how Trump is sitting at the top. He lies and says he never said what he is quoted as saying. LOL! For instance, that he didn't support a Muslim database. He did say that he supported it.

He did not say that. You are now lying. Listen to the comment carefully. He was referring to the wall.

[Pressing-On]

Originally Posted by Originalist

He did not say that. You are now lying. Listen to the comment carefully. He was referring to the wall.

Check your facts before you accuse me of lying. I'm not an idiot and I don't post information that I haven't checked first.

I saw this interview when it came out.

Trump’s plan for a Muslim database draws comparison to Nazi Germany
http://www.msnbc.com/msnbc/trump-wou...uslim-database

MSNBC Reporter: But specifically, how do you actually get them registered into a database?

Trump: It would be just good management. What you have to do is good management procedures. And we can do that. (to someone else) That’s nice.

MSNBC Reporter: Do you go to mosques and sign people up?*

Trump: Different places. You sign ‘em up at different, but it’s all about management. Our country has no management.*

MSNBC Reporter: Would they have to legally be in this database, would they be–

Trump: They have to – they have to be. Let me just tell you: People can come to the country, but they have to come legally. Thank you very much.

[Pressing-On]

Originally Posted by Jason Badejo

That's good. So Iowa is the first primary or New Hampshire? What's the difference in a caucus and primary? And how many states matter? Seems like last time by the time the 4th state was done Romney was the nominee.

Iowa is first - February 1
NH - February 9

Here are the Primary schedules:

http://www.uspresidentialelectionnew...dule-calendar/

A Caucus is when people openly decide who the candidate will be.
A Primary is when people cast ballots.

The rules, which changed for the RNC during the last election cycle, say that a candidate must win the majority of delegates in 8 states. Before that, they only needed five. You see why they changed that, Ron Paul was winning, but I digress.

With this many candidates in the mix, the rules could winnow the field or end with new rule changes either raising or lowering the states required. Basically, they used this rule to push out anyone running against the Establishment. Now the top three, if Carson stays up, are running against the Establishment. LOL! It's a mess.

Rubio is pretty much in the same boat as Romney, IMO. Romney would have needed to win 73% of the Hispanic vote and only got around 27%. He needed only 3% more of the white vote. He tried for the Hispanic, but it would have been easier to win the 3% than an additional 46%. He just wasn't a good candidate. I don't think Rubio is either.

So, Trump has the blue collar and black support right now. He has a hard line on immigration and an "in your face" regarding the GOPe pushing Jeb on the electorate. He also has celebrity status, which is interesting. He is like your favorite Uncle who messes up and you simply say, "Oh, that's just Frank for you". When you feel you know someone, when they mess up, the rhetoric doesn't stick. So, he has that, and I don't know how the primaries will vote. If he wins, I will vote for him, but I don't think he is conservative, although, I don't think he would destroy our country.

Ted Cruz has a very long conservative history. I was glad to hear Ben Shapiro respond, when asked which candidate would make the best president, Ted Cruz.

[Evang.Benincasa]

[Pressing-On]

Thanks for your stupid contribution. Another drive-by from the "evangelist".

[Evang.Benincasa]

Originally Posted by Pressing-On

Thanks for your stupid contribution. Another drive-by from the "evangelist".

Come on...you thought it was funny.

You laughed!