Cruz to enter GOP race for President

Discussion in 'West Mall' started by Mr. Deez, Mar 22, 2015.

  1. Mr. Deez

    Mr. Deez Beer Prophet

  2. Crockett

    Crockett 5,000+ Posts

    I see him as more of a bomb thrower than a problem solver. I guess if you think it's time to blow it up and start over, he's your guy.
     
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  3. huisache

    huisache 2,500+ Posts

    Ted Cruz wants to be president? I had no idea he was that ambitious.

    I wish some of these boy geniuses would go to the trouble of learning how the legislative process works before attempting to ascend the throne. Because if they don't understand it, and Carter, Clinton, Bush II and Obama have not, then they go on their charismatic jousts and get nowhere and start trying to rule by decree. Charisma will get you elected by the boobs who bother to vote but it will get you nowhere in the Congress or with foreign countries who could give a squat about your backstory.

    Cruz is no kind of team player and will get no help at all from the Congress, which he treats with disdain at every turn. So when he takes the throne, if he does, he will have to rule rather than preside and haven't we all had quite enough of that?

    In addition, he has a messiah complex that is all out of proportion to his abilities. I know he went to Harvard Law School and therefore is smarter than baby Jesus but those jokers have a habit of falling on their two faces with great regularity. But they don't see it that way----it is just another obstacle to overcome on the way to Mount Rushmore.

    Eff him and the rest of the would be Caesars.

    What did he do in the war? Oh, yes, Harvard laws don't do wars, they just start them.
     
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  4. Musburger1

    Musburger1 2,500+ Posts

    In order to win the nomination today, the first requisite is to raise an enormous amount of money. To accomplish that, you have to toe the line of the power brokers. What matters to them isn't necessarily the same thing that matters to the public.

    Comparing Jeb Bush to Cruz, I think both would be acceptable candidates to the powers that be.

    1. Both are basically pro-Israel, neocon ideologically speaking, who advocate US interventionism - both militarily and economically - as has been the case for decades. Neither raises objections with Homeland Security and the growing surveillance powers of the US Government. Conclusion: The military-industrial complex would be satisfied with either candidate.

    2. Both are pro-Wall Street. Bush ties are well documented and Cruz met his wife while working on the George W. Bush presidential campaign of 2000. Cruz's wife is currently head of the Southwest Region in the Investment Management Division of Goldman, Sachs & Co. and previously worked in the White House for Condoleezza Rice and in New York as an investment banker.
    Conclusion: Wall Street would be satisfied with either candidate.

    3. Both are pro oil. Obviously the Bush family has ties to the oil industry and Cruz was a big proponent of completing the oil pipeline.
    Conclusion: The oil industry would be satisfied with either candidate.

    Although the big financiers such as the Coke brothers would probably be happy with either candidate, they must figure out which one is more electable in a general election before anointing someone with the nomination. The public generally cares about things like abortion and gay marriage, things the power brokers don't give a damn about, but with Bush and Cruz, the topic of immigration is something that the public cares about and sets the two apart.

    Ironically, Bush has the softer stance on the (illegal) immigration issue than does Cruz. This might make Cruz more popular with the Republican base, but perhaps not with the general public. While either candidate would carry Texas, its possible Bush could carry Florida and maybe Cruz could not. If that's the case, the powers that be would probably try to destroy Cruz if necessary to get Bush in office.
     
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  5. BurntOrangeOnly

    BurntOrangeOnly 500+ Posts

    Hmm, I thought only native born citizens were eligible to be president unless both parents were US citizens at the time of the birth. Cruz' father became a citizen in 2005. It seems like he's not eligible to be President. Legal Eagles here, feel free to correct me if I'm wrong.
     
  6. militaryhorn

    militaryhorn Prediction Contest Manager

    My understanding is the individual has to be a US citizen, not the parents.

    I would never vote for Cruz, to polarized for me and seems to closed minded to compromise.
     
  7. Crockett

    Crockett 5,000+ Posts

    "Hmm, I thought only native born citizens were eligible to be president unless both parents were US citizens at the time of the birth. Cruz' father became a citizen in 2005. It seems like he's not eligible to be President. Legal Eagles here, feel free to correct me if I'm wrong."

    Only applies to black democrats. Cruz has big backing among the once "birthers."
     
  8. NJlonghorn

    NJlonghorn 2,500+ Posts

    Bad news. If Cruz gets the nomination, which I think he might, that would probably mean a Hillary Clinton presidency.
     
  9. Mr. Deez

    Mr. Deez Beer Prophet

    There's debate on the issue, but the key factor is what your status was at birth. If you were born a US citizen, then you are a "natural born citizen" and eligible to be President. By contrast, if you had to go through the naturalization process, then you are not a natural born citizen. Cruz is a natural born citizen despite being born outside the United States because one of his parents (his mother) was a citizen and because that parent lived in the United States for five years, two of which were after her 14th birthday.

    The stupid thing about the birthers (besides the obvious) is that even if Obama had been born in Kenya (meaning his Hawaiian birth certificate was a fraud), he would have passed the same test for citizenship that Cruz passes.
     
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  10. BurntOrangeOnly

    BurntOrangeOnly 500+ Posts

    Thank you Mr. Deez. :hookem2:
     
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  11. BevoBeef

    BevoBeef 250+ Posts

    It is bad news for the conservative right. He is splitting their vote.

    I have spent most of my time here in Texas. Whenever he pulls his antics and shows his political inexperience, I feel ashamed for this state. He is not necessarily incorrect in the views that he espouses, but his tactics are just for drawing attention to himself and are not constructive for his cause. The media can shine a light on him, but he does not show the political savvy of BO. Therefore, he really does not have a chance to win the nomination. This quote from the referenced article is an example to show how serious that he is about actually winning:
     
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  12. Mr. Deez

    Mr. Deez Beer Prophet

    Like I've said before, you and Seattle Husker are my model voters. The future of the GOP (if it has a future) is to attract guys like you - educated voters from urban (or near urban) areas. If you wouldn't even consider Cruz, then he's not a good candidate for 2016.
     
  13. Crockett

    Crockett 5,000+ Posts

    I was curious if we might hear from Donald Trump and Lou Dobbs, conservative who tried to bring credence to Obama's "birther" controversy. I googled Lou Dobbs and Ted Cruz and found, to my surprise, Dobbs is no fan of Cruz. He aired remarks comparing Cruz' executive experience and arrogance with a president currently very unpopular with Republicans.
     
    Last edited: Mar 23, 2015
  14. Larry T Spider

    Larry T Spider 100+ Posts

    Exactly. Washington needs fixing and I believe that fiscal conservatism is the best path. I want somebody that can work with both sides to make that happen in areas where reasonable people can agree. Some libs will whine and scream about any slowing of the increase of spending. I'm not worried about them. We need somebody that can build a coalition from the dems from moderate districts to get this budget under control. Cruz is about the farthest guy that I can think of from my ideal republican. ALL dems will have their heels dug in from day one and he will "throw bombs" at them for at least four years. If you are interested in actual solutions, stay away from Cruz.
     
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  15. HornHuskerDad

    HornHuskerDad 5,000+ Posts

    I'm not in favor of a Cruz candidacy. I griped about Obama as a first-term senator with no other experience, and I suppose I feel the same about Cruz. There are other good candidates available to the GOP, and I fear that Cruz would be so polarizing that it would throw the White House to Hillary.

    I sincerely hope the GOP thinks this through carefully.
     
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  16. Seattle Husker

    Seattle Husker 10,000+ Posts

    I'm surprised as to how many posters think Cruz has a shot at the Republican nomination. With his Tea Party base and anti-establishment strategies, is there enough of a wave of discontentment that he can ride to the nomination? I'd think he do well in early primaries but flame out as the mainstream Repub's realize he can't win a general election. Maybe this helps Jeb? Cruz picks off Santorum and Huckabee early then later leaves the youngest Bush as the only acceptable electable candidate from the right.
     
  17. pasotex

    pasotex 2,500+ Posts

    I love him as the GOP candidate. Does this answer some questions?
     
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  18. Seattle Husker

    Seattle Husker 10,000+ Posts

    I'm not sure the Tea Party answers to the GOP at this point.
     
  19. Mr. Deez

    Mr. Deez Beer Prophet

    Here's the problem. Many conservatives think there is a hard right majority in the country ready to rise up once they get a nominee who is conservative enough for their liking, and they are likely to think Cruz is the candidate to do that. Sadly, they're wrong about that majority, but their rationale that Cruz is the right candidate for that hard right majority that doesn't really exist has some merit. First, he is very conservative, especially on issues that motivate the base (abortion, gays, guns, illegal immigration, etc.). You can't really get further right than he is without getting into David Duke territory. Second, he's an anti-Washington zealot. Those of us who are solutions-oriented conservatives who care about policy know that his unpopularity on Capitol Hill is a negative point. However, to many conservatives who think (sometimes correctly, sometimes incorrectly) they've gotten hosed by DC, that's a plus. They will like that his usually less conservative and less Obama-hating Republican colleagues don't like him. Third, crapping on Obama motivates Republican primary voters - always has, and nobody has done it more than Cruz has. Fourth, the media hates Cruz as it hates everybody the right likes, and in a GOP primary, that's also a plus. Finally, Cruz is a good campaigner, and he'll bust his ***. He won his Senate race against an entrenched Republican statewide officeholder with unlimited funds, and he did it by appealing to the grassroots and working them into a frenzy. He's phenomenally good at that.

    Also, though I don't think there is a hard-right majority in America that's waiting for the perfect candidate, there may very well be a hard-right majority in the GOP primaries that's waiting for the ideal candidate. It could be enough to overwhelm a Jeb Bush candidacy. Bush may have tons of money and connections, but his name is a liability not only in the general election but in a primary. He goes against the base at least as much as his brother and father did, but the big difference now is that the GOP base is more polarized than it was in 2000 and far more so than it was in 1992. I don't think Cruz will sweep the GOP primaries in the Northeast, but I could see him slamdunking the South and doing well enough in the Midwest and Mountain states to win the nomination. Don't underestimate him. Like I said before, he'll bust his ***.
     
  20. Seattle Husker

    Seattle Husker 10,000+ Posts

    I think the "Tea Party" is a rather small but very vocal minority that comprises a good portion of the Republican base. The base is growing as the baby boomers age but the perception of an overall shift to the right isn't accurate, IMHO.
     
  21. nashhorn

    nashhorn 5,000+ Posts

    So ok he doesn't have a chance and probably a good thing, but anyone with the balls to state up front - flat tax and abolish the IRS, gets my attention. And yes, I have become very one issued when that (tax reform) is the issue. While not a TEA partier I do indeed believe I/we are Taxed Enough Already and definitively feel "mad as hell and don't want to take it anymore".
     
  22. Larry T Spider

    Larry T Spider 100+ Posts

    Deez is spot on about how he will play well in a primary. He is everything a huge portion of GOP primary voters are looking for. Far right on issues, Obama bashing, good speaker, and anti-Washington/irs, minority last name, it's an all out wet dream for the most vocal of the right wing. He's like what perry would be if he became self-aware.
     
  23. zork

    zork 2,500+ Posts

    I have an affinity for the guy and his apparent tough, straight talking realism. Then he says he will abolish the IRS? WTF? Loony RPaul said the same ****. No way.

    He does have many stances I agree with but he will need to fine tune his message to have any chance. One of which is take a step back into reality with respect to abolishing the IRS.
     
  24. Mr. Deez

    Mr. Deez Beer Prophet

    And I agree with you. I don't see an overall shift to the right. I think there is a center-right majority (fiscally conservative but socially moderate to indifferent). However, I do think there has been a significant rightward shift in the GOP primary elections that froze out the center, and like I've said previously, I think it has at least as much to do with tone and attitude as it does with policy. I think most of the center voters will vote for a candidate who's more conservative than they are, as they currently vote for candidates who are more liberal than they are. However, it has to be respectful disagreement and include an invitation for the center element to have a seat at the table, and Reagan was able to pull that off. In states and communities that were to his Left, he knew how to highlight areas of agreement rather than division.

    That's where the big change has been. It's not enough to disagree respectfully with moderates. To win a GOP primary, you have to take a hard right stance on issues, be very rigid about it regardless of context and political realities, and most of all, treat others who disagree (even if it's minor disagreement) with self-righteous contempt displayed with vitriolic rhetoric. Or as Larry more succinctly puts it, you have to behave like a "****-flinging monkey." Ted Cruz epitomizes this more than anybody in modern politics.
     
    Last edited: Mar 24, 2015
  25. Mr. Deez

    Mr. Deez Beer Prophet

    I would favor a flat tax, but there's nothing ballsy about supporting one and especially about advocating abolishing the IRS in a Republican primary. The IRS is a pretty easy target, and frankly, it isn't fair. Most IRS employees are conscientious civil servants. The problem is that their job is to enforce an oppressive tax code written by politicians. The politicians and the constituents who elect them are the root of the problem, not the IRS.
     
  26. Mr. Deez

    Mr. Deez Beer Prophet

    Rick Perry is what Cruz would be if he had gone to A&M instead of Princeton and Harvard Law School.
     
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  27. UTChE96

    UTChE96 2,500+ Posts

    Too polarizing. Need a doer not a talker. Kasich is my ideal candidate. Would absolutely decimate Hillary.
     
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  28. Crockett

    Crockett 5,000+ Posts

    So if we abolish the IRS, how do we collect taxes? Same way a chuch collects tithes?
     
  29. Mr. Deez

    Mr. Deez Beer Prophet

    I don't think he or any Republican would "decimate" any reasonably likely Democrat. On its very best day and with its very best candidate, the GOP might be able to carry all the states in which Romney got at least 45 percent of the vote. In other words, they could flip Florida, Ohio, Virginia, Pennsylvania, New Hampshire, Iowa, Colorado, Wisconsin, Nevada, and Minnesota (44.96 percent - close enough). That would be 331 electoral votes - a commanding win but not a decimation.

    Nevertheless, I agree on Kasich. He's from one of the most important swing states, has a broad, semi-populist appeal, and has a reputation as a doer and consensus builder. For one thing, he really was the driving force behind the balanced budgets of the late '90s (not Bill Clinton). I think he could defeat Hillary Clinton, but it would be a close election, not a decimation.
     
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  30. NJlonghorn

    NJlonghorn 2,500+ Posts

    I didn't really know much about him, so I did some reading. I wouldn't say he is an ideal candidate, but he is worth considering. My only reservation about him (based on what I know so far) is that he is very far right of mainstream on social issues. For example:
    • Opposes gay marriage and civil unions.
    • Opposes adoption by gay couples.
    • Opposes abortion except for rape and incest.
    • Supports reducing death-penalty appeals.
    • Thinks the answer to crime is tougher sentencing.
    • Opposes medical marijuana.
    • Thinks biblical stories are literally true. (I am not offended by this, but it tends to go along with things I do find offensive.)
    These things suggest a candidate who puts his religious beliefs first. That scares me more than a bad economy does.

    Why can't we find a fiscally conservative candidate with mainstream views on social issues? I'm not talking abortion on demand, drugs for all, and bans on guns and lethal executions. I'm just talking about reasonable balance.
     

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