Author Topic: Dreaming of 'President Ted Cruz' will turn into a nightmare for the GOP  (Read 2883 times)

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Offline sinkspur

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http://washingtonexaminer.com/dreaming-of-president-ted-cruz-will-turn-into-a-nightmare-for-the-gop/article/2545480

Dreaming of 'President Ted Cruz' will turn into a nightmare for the GOP

BY NOEMIE EMERY | MARCH 11, 2014 AT 3:12 PM


As with most things, there are good and bad aspects of the Tea Party movement. And all the bad ones were on display March 6 in a speech by Ted Cruz to the Conservative Political Action Conference that replayed every silly thing ever said by conservatives and added some riffs of his own.

He began with a mocking refrain about "presidents" Bob Dole, John McCain and Mitt Romney (two of them veterans impaired by their trauma), chiding them for not being his kind of conservative. He also asked if we remembered their reigns.

Well, we do remember, and we remember one more that for some reason is never brought up in this context: the glorious tenure of "President" Barry M. Goldwater, Mr. Conservative, far more in-your-face than Ronald Reagan, who lost by far more than those other worthies. Goldwater lost in one of the great drubbings in history, lost by more than any Republican but Alfred M. Landon, and carried only his home state and five southern states for all the wrong reasons (opposing -- for a fairly innocent reason -- the Civil Rights Act of 1964.)

No one followed the Cruz playbook more than Goldwater, and no one has managed to lose so conclusively. He offered a choice, not an echo, and nobody took it. But how, if Cruz is so right, could this have happened? It can’t, which is why it is never brought up in this context. In his world, it doesn’t exist.

As the Goldwater debacle has been excised from history, so have the actual reasons why Dole, McCain and Romney all lost. Dole lost because the Bill Clinton he faced in 1996 was not the Clinton of 1993-94, but the Third Way Bill Clinton, who with the help of Dick Morris was triangulating his way between Newt Gingrich and congressional Democrats -- the Bill Clinton who would sign the welfare reform bill and say the era of big government was over and gone.

Under the restraints exercised by the Republican Congress, the economy was beginning to hum, and we were still in our decade-long vacation from history. No incumbent producing peace and prosperity has ever been ousted by the opposition party, and Clinton was no exception. Reagan himself could not have won in these conditions, and he could not have won either were he running to succeed a president of his party when the economy collapsed six weeks before the election. When the markets collapsed, McCain was leading Obama, and his lead had been widening. Luck beat McCain, not ideology, and without this he might well have won.

As for "President" Romney, exit polls showed he carried the electorate on critical measures like values and leadership, and lost because he failed badly on one single measure: "cares about people like you."

This suggests that he lost not because he needed to be more like Cruz, who gives not a clue that he cares about anyone, but more like compassionate conservative George W. Bush, who did very well with the Hispanics and the lower-middle-class white voters whom Romney so drastically lost.

Cruz also said Democrats celebrate when Republicans move to the middle, but what really makes Democrats happy is when Cruz does things like shutting down the government (which trashed the GOP brand until health care revived it and sank the Republican slate in Virginia), forcing Republican senators into difficult votes that do not make their re-election more likely.

Republicans need much advice from pragmatic advisers. But not from a source like Ted Cruz.

Noemie Emery, a Washington Examiner columnist, is a contributing editor to The Weekly Standard and author of "Great Expectations: The Troubled Lives of Political Families."


Roy Moore's "spiritual warfare" is driving past a junior high without stopping.

Offline Atomic Cow

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"...And these atomic bombs which science burst upon the world that night were strange, even to the men who used them."  H. G. Wells, The World Set Free, 1914

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Offline sinkspur

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No more of your illustration than those who think Ted Cruz is the next Ronald Reagan.

He ain't.
Roy Moore's "spiritual warfare" is driving past a junior high without stopping.

Offline Bigun

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"I wish it need not have happened in my time," said Frodo.

"So do I," said Gandalf, "and so do all who live to see such times. But that is not for them to decide. All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given us."
- J. R. R. Tolkien

Oceander

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Quote
As for "President" Romney, exit polls showed he carried the electorate on critical measures like values and leadership, and lost because he failed badly on one single measure: "cares about people like you."

By contrast, Reagan won the "cares about people like you" vote hands down.

After having donned by asbestos suit I am going to say that this is a very cogent analysis.

Offline Rapunzel

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The same phantom posters who pushed Palin for President here must be pushing Cruz for president now..... at least that is what one person seems to believe.   The person must be really invisible because I've missed the endorsement here for any one person for president in 2016. If by any chance it is Cruz I'm good with it, same with Perry  or Walker - Paul makes nervous because of his dad.
�The time is now near at hand which must probably determine, whether Americans are to be, Freemen, or Slaves.� G Washington July 2, 1776

Oceander

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The same phantom posters who pushed Palin for President here must be pushing Cruz for president now..... at least that is what one person seems to believe.   The person must be really invisible because I've missed the endorsement here for any one person for president in 2016. If by any chance it is Cruz I'm good with it, same with Perry  or Walker - Paul makes nervous because of his dad.


huh? (scratches head)

Offline massadvj

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This is no endorsement of Cruz, but it seems to me that nearly every criticism of conservative nominees originates with the assumption that the GOP must segment the voters into various groups and appeal to each group according to its political interests.  It seems to me that this is the Democrats' approach, and I seriously doubt Republicans are going to be able to outbid the socialists.

The way to combat segmentation is to focus on what we all have in common and articulate some universal truths that cross demographic lines.  Whether that is something Cruz can do, I cannot say.  I certainly encourage him to try.

I frankly don't understand those folks who are trying to limit the voices in our party, and limit our choice of candidates. 

Offline Bigun

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This is no endorsement of Cruz, but it seems to me that nearly every criticism of conservative nominees originates with the assumption that the GOP must segment the voters into various groups and appeal to each group according to its political interests.  It seems to me that this is the Democrats' approach, and I seriously doubt Republicans are going to be able to outbid the socialists.

The way to combat segmentation is to focus on what we all have in common and articulate some universal truths that cross demographic lines.  Whether that is something Cruz can do, I cannot say.  I certainly encourage him to try.

I frankly don't understand those folks who are trying to limit the voices in our party, and limit our choice of candidates.

And neither do I unless they have a vested interest in doing so!
"I wish it need not have happened in my time," said Frodo.

"So do I," said Gandalf, "and so do all who live to see such times. But that is not for them to decide. All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given us."
- J. R. R. Tolkien

Oceander

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This is no endorsement of Cruz, but it seems to me that nearly every criticism of conservative nominees originates with the assumption that the GOP must segment the voters into various groups and appeal to each group according to its political interests.  It seems to me that this is the Democrats' approach, and I seriously doubt Republicans are going to be able to outbid the socialists.

The way to combat segmentation is to focus on what we all have in common and articulate some universal truths that cross demographic lines.  Whether that is something Cruz can do, I cannot say.  I certainly encourage him to try.

I frankly don't understand those folks who are trying to limit the voices in our party, and limit our choice of candidates. 

to me it appears the other way around.  The segmentation is driven by so-called "true conservatives" who to all appearances seem to believe that they are the wheat to the chaff that is everyone else, to be gotten rid of in order to have a "pure" party.

Offline musiclady

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Re: Dreaming of 'President Ted Cruz' will turn into a nightmare for the GOP
« Reply #10 on: March 13, 2014, 12:44:21 am »
I'm going to jump in the fray (taking a risk, I know), and say that it cuts both ways.

The Republican party has, at least for the past 50 years, had a conservative wing and a moderate wing.

In the past, the two ends of the spectrum were able to unite for a common goal.  Now, we need to be united more than EVER before, because the left is tearing America apart.

BOTH sides need to swallow their pride and get the "big picture."

If we don't, we won't survive as a nation.

It's that simple.
Character still matters.  It always matters.

I wear a mask as an exercise in liberty and love for others.  To see it as an infringement of liberty is to entirely miss the point.  Be kind.

"Sometimes I think the Church would be better off if we would call a moratorium on activity for about six weeks and just wait on God to see what He is waiting to do for us. That's what they did before Pentecost."   - A. W. Tozer

Use the time God is giving us to seek His will and feel His presence.

Offline Bigun

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Re: Dreaming of 'President Ted Cruz' will turn into a nightmare for the GOP
« Reply #11 on: March 13, 2014, 12:56:57 am »
I'm going to jump in the fray (taking a risk, I know), and say that it cuts both ways.

The Republican party has, at least for the past 50 years, had a conservative wing and a moderate wing.

In the past, the two ends of the spectrum were able to unite for a common goal.  Now, we need to be united more than EVER before, because the left is tearing America apart.

BOTH sides need to swallow their pride and get the "big picture."

If we don't, we won't survive as a nation.

It's that simple.

The progressive wing of the Republican party has NEVER tried to get along with the conservatives and aren't about to now. The sooner everyone understands that the better off everyone is going to be!

As someone here said the other day Conservative ALWAYS wind up fighting a two front war! They must fight the progressives in their own party while simultaneously fighting the Democrats!
« Last Edit: March 13, 2014, 12:59:42 am by Bigun »
"I wish it need not have happened in my time," said Frodo.

"So do I," said Gandalf, "and so do all who live to see such times. But that is not for them to decide. All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given us."
- J. R. R. Tolkien

Online DCPatriot

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Re: Dreaming of 'President Ted Cruz' will turn into a nightmare for the GOP
« Reply #12 on: March 13, 2014, 01:36:23 am »
The progressive wing of the Republican party has NEVER tried to get along with the conservatives and aren't about to now. The sooner everyone understands that the better off everyone is going to be!

As someone here said the other day Conservative ALWAYS wind up fighting a two front war! They must fight the progressives in their own party while simultaneously fighting the Democrats!

I don't think that's entirely it, Bigun.

The internet and social media has turned a much larger spotlight on the extreme ends of both parties. 

Since we don't control the media, 'our' crazy uncles on the right make it EZ for them to portray conservatives as racist/bigot/homophobic/evil rich/Nazis.......just pick one.  Or Two.

The moderate wing of the party is more terrified than ever to hand the reins over to the likes of Ted Cruz, etc..

Myself....I love the fight the GOP is having right now.  I hope it draws blood, because it could have historical implications.

For example, castrating Obama politically is remarkable in itself.  But will be enough to satisfy everybody?  Here, perhaps.  But across the country?

Will the GOP Tea Party faction call for Impeachment and removal of Barack Obama?   If so that's too bad.   It will backfire in 2016 if they do.

"It aint what you don't know that kills you.  It's what you know that aint so!" ...Theodore Sturgeon

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Offline musiclady

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Re: Dreaming of 'President Ted Cruz' will turn into a nightmare for the GOP
« Reply #13 on: March 13, 2014, 02:10:10 am »
The progressive wing of the Republican party has NEVER tried to get along with the conservatives and aren't about to now. The sooner everyone understands that the better off everyone is going to be!

As someone here said the other day Conservative ALWAYS wind up fighting a two front war! They must fight the progressives in their own party while simultaneously fighting the Democrats!

Oh, I agree completely, Bigun.

I just spent so much time on FR reading incessant attacks on "RINO's" (i.e. EVERYONE in the Republican Party), that I know there's some fault on the conservative end too.

We really DO need to stop attacking each other.  Leftists somehow understand that they need to hang together when it comes to the big elections.  There are just too many on the right who don't seem to get it.
Character still matters.  It always matters.

I wear a mask as an exercise in liberty and love for others.  To see it as an infringement of liberty is to entirely miss the point.  Be kind.

"Sometimes I think the Church would be better off if we would call a moratorium on activity for about six weeks and just wait on God to see what He is waiting to do for us. That's what they did before Pentecost."   - A. W. Tozer

Use the time God is giving us to seek His will and feel His presence.

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Re: Dreaming of 'President Ted Cruz' will turn into a nightmare for the GOP
« Reply #14 on: March 13, 2014, 02:35:47 am »
The progressive wing of the Republican party has NEVER tried to get along with the conservatives and aren't about to now. The sooner everyone understands that the better off everyone is going to be!

As someone here said the other day Conservative ALWAYS wind up fighting a two front war! They must fight the progressives in their own party while simultaneously fighting the Democrats!

And the conservative wing hasn't tried to get along with anyone else, either.  The moderates also end up fighting a two-front war, simultaneously fending off the depredations of the conservatives and their allies while fighting the democrats.

That's the problem - both sides of the same party spend more time antagonizing each other than they do fighting the enemy.

Offline Bigun

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Re: Dreaming of 'President Ted Cruz' will turn into a nightmare for the GOP
« Reply #15 on: March 13, 2014, 02:53:25 am »
And the conservative wing hasn't tried to get along with anyone else, either.  The moderates also end up fighting a two-front war, simultaneously fending off the depredations of the conservatives and their allies while fighting the democrats.

That's the problem - both sides of the same party spend more time antagonizing each other than they do fighting the enemy.

I don't think that is true at all! Conservatives ALWAYS wind up getting behind the party nominee in the end but the same definitely isn't true of the other side and we've seen that many times just in the last couple of election cycles! As recently as yesterday in fact!
« Last Edit: March 13, 2014, 02:56:50 am by Bigun »
"I wish it need not have happened in my time," said Frodo.

"So do I," said Gandalf, "and so do all who live to see such times. But that is not for them to decide. All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given us."
- J. R. R. Tolkien

Offline massadvj

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Re: Dreaming of 'President Ted Cruz' will turn into a nightmare for the GOP
« Reply #16 on: March 13, 2014, 03:01:39 am »
to me it appears the other way around.  The segmentation is driven by so-called "true conservatives" who to all appearances seem to believe that they are the wheat to the chaff that is everyone else, to be gotten rid of in order to have a "pure" party.

I haven't read too many conservatives writing that Christie or Jeb Bush should not run.

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Re: Dreaming of 'President Ted Cruz' will turn into a nightmare for the GOP
« Reply #17 on: March 13, 2014, 03:06:29 am »
I don't think that is true at all! Conservatives ALWAYS wind up getting behind the party nominee in the end but the same definitely isn't true of the other side and we've seen that many times just in the last couple of election cycles! As recently as yesterday in fact!


Baloney.  There were any number of sit-outs because of things as trivial as Romney's being a mormon.  Don't believe me?  Go read some of the tripe that got plastered up at FR about that.

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Re: Dreaming of 'President Ted Cruz' will turn into a nightmare for the GOP
« Reply #18 on: March 13, 2014, 03:06:59 am »
I haven't read too many conservatives writing that Christie or Jeb Bush should not run.

You've not been reading much here then, have you?  I'm just waiting for the holier-than-thou threats to sit out the election if Christie runs.
« Last Edit: March 13, 2014, 03:07:24 am by Oceander »

Offline Bigun

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Re: Dreaming of 'President Ted Cruz' will turn into a nightmare for the GOP
« Reply #19 on: March 13, 2014, 03:11:01 am »
Baloney.  There were any number of sit-outs because of things as trivial as Romney's being a mormon.  Don't believe me?  Go read some of the tripe that got plastered up at FR about that.

I read it! That's why I'm here and not there! There are exceptions to everything but in general I stand by every word of what I said!
"I wish it need not have happened in my time," said Frodo.

"So do I," said Gandalf, "and so do all who live to see such times. But that is not for them to decide. All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given us."
- J. R. R. Tolkien

Offline massadvj

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Re: Dreaming of 'President Ted Cruz' will turn into a nightmare for the GOP
« Reply #20 on: March 13, 2014, 03:14:33 am »
You've not been reading much here then, have you?  I'm just waiting for the holier-than-thou threats to sit out the election if Christie runs.

I guess I haven't been paying attention.  My own opinion is that I'd prefer choices in the primaries.  I ended up voting for Ron Paul last time because by the time PA came along it was down to Paul or Romney.

As to my main point, I think the GOP should focus on the things that define us as Americans as opposed to hyphenated Americans.

Offline Rapunzel

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Re: Dreaming of 'President Ted Cruz' will turn into a nightmare for the GOP
« Reply #21 on: March 13, 2014, 03:15:32 am »
Other articles from this author (who also contributes to The Weekly Standard)


Why can’t conservative candidates win Republican presidential primaries?

Somewhat conservative' voters are the real driving force in the GOP

Michael Novak and Charles Krauthammer: Two liberals who blessed the conservative movement with their conversion

Tea Party conservatives should seek out more of Reagan's '80-percent friends'

Tea Party needs to grow up, quickly, before it's too late for Republicans

The crisis arrives - Conservatives4Palin

Noemie Emery absolutely savages Ted Cruz [Obama and Ted Cruz, political twins separated at birth]

oh and she refers to Palin as "hurricane Sarah"





�The time is now near at hand which must probably determine, whether Americans are to be, Freemen, or Slaves.� G Washington July 2, 1776

Offline katzenjammer

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Re: Dreaming of 'President Ted Cruz' will turn into a nightmare for the GOP
« Reply #22 on: March 13, 2014, 03:24:18 am »
Other articles from this author (who also contributes to The Weekly Standard)


Why can’t conservative candidates win Republican presidential primaries?

Somewhat conservative' voters are the real driving force in the GOP

Michael Novak and Charles Krauthammer: Two liberals who blessed the conservative movement with their conversion

Tea Party conservatives should seek out more of Reagan's '80-percent friends'

Tea Party needs to grow up, quickly, before it's too late for Republicans

The crisis arrives - Conservatives4Palin

Noemie Emery absolutely savages Ted Cruz [Obama and Ted Cruz, political twins separated at birth]

oh and she refers to Palin as "hurricane Sarah"

She reminds me of the "GOP" writer at the Post, Jennifer Rubin.  lol

Oceander

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Re: Dreaming of 'President Ted Cruz' will turn into a nightmare for the GOP
« Reply #23 on: March 13, 2014, 03:29:10 am »
I guess I haven't been paying attention.  My own opinion is that I'd prefer choices in the primaries.  I ended up voting for Ron Paul last time because by the time PA came along it was down to Paul or Romney.

As to my main point, I think the GOP should focus on the things that define us as Americans as opposed to hyphenated Americans.

On your main point I agree completely.  And I really, really wish that everyone in the GOP would stop shooting at each other and start shooting at the real enemy.

Offline musiclady

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Re: Dreaming of 'President Ted Cruz' will turn into a nightmare for the GOP
« Reply #24 on: March 13, 2014, 01:23:00 pm »
I read it! That's why I'm here and not there! There are exceptions to everything but in general I stand by every word of what I said!

I'm curious, from one conservative to another......... how do you explain the low conservative voter turnout in 2012 (aside from the IRS, of course), if you don't think that conservatives 'sat it out' because Romney wasn't pure enough.  (Obviously, he wasn't the best choice, but the alternative was a Marxist!).

Even on this forum there have been posts saying a member would never vote for Christie.   And there are those who, on threads about how wretched this administration and the Dems are, almost always manage to take pot shots at Republicans.  First.

I think that Obama won in 2008 because of conservatives who wouldn't vote for McCain.  My view was, no matter how bad McCain was, he was a better alternative than a Communist thug.  I argued with so many people who said their 'conscience' would not allow them to vote for McCain or Romney.

Yet their "conscience" apparently DID allow them to help Obama win.

As I said earlier......I don't think the problem is one-sided.  And even though I'm a conservative Republican, I don't think the blame of missing the big picture is all on the side of the progressive Republicans.

And I fully agree with Oceander, that we need to stop shooting each other, and start shooting at the enemy.

JMHO

Character still matters.  It always matters.

I wear a mask as an exercise in liberty and love for others.  To see it as an infringement of liberty is to entirely miss the point.  Be kind.

"Sometimes I think the Church would be better off if we would call a moratorium on activity for about six weeks and just wait on God to see what He is waiting to do for us. That's what they did before Pentecost."   - A. W. Tozer

Use the time God is giving us to seek His will and feel His presence.