Graham: GOP may have to rally around Ted Cruz

[mystery-ak]

http://thehill.com/blogs/ballot-box/271439-graham-gop-may-have-to-rally-around-ted-cruz

March 01, 2016, 11:00 pm
Graham: GOP may have to rally around Ted Cruz

By Harper Neidig

Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) says the Republican Party may be forced to support presidential hopeful Ted Cruz in order to stop front-runner Donald Trump.

"You know Ted Cruz is not my favorite, by any means,” Graham, who dropped his own bid for the White House in December, said in an interview with CBS. “But we may be in a position where we have to rally around Ted Cruz as the only way to stop Donald Trump, and I'm not so sure that would work.”

His comments came with Super Tuesday results indicating Trump would win as many as eight states. They also came a week after Graham joked, “If you killed Ted Cruz on the floor of the Senate, and the trial was in the Senate, nobody could convict you.”

Graham has been a tough critic of both Trump or Cruz. He once said that choosing between the two would be "like being shot or poisoned. I think you get the same result, whether it's quick or it takes a long time."

The South Carolina senator also said on Tuesday that Trump's rhetoric on immigration would guarantee Hillary Clinton, the Democratic front-runner, would win the general election.

"I think we're about ready to lose to the most dishonest politician in America, Hillary Clinton, and how could you do that? Nominate somebody who's crazy. And I think dishonest beats crazy, that's our problem," Graham said.

"And Donald Trump I think is crazy — the things he says."

Graham said nominating Trump would be a major setback to GOP efforts to attract more Hispanic voters.

"You'll never convince me that Donald Trump is the answer to the problem we have with Hispanics. It will tear the party apart, it will divide conservatism, and we're gonna lose to Hillary Clinton and have the third term of Barack Obama," he said.

[libertybele]

The GOP may have to rally around Cruz!  I am relishing in that thought right now!   

[Relic]

The GOP may have to rally around Cruz!  I am relishing in that thought right now!   

This is too funny. The establishment sees Ted Cruz, the guy who won't play ball and shut down the government, as their last, best hope.

Another poster said it best, this election is a lesson in what happens when a party adopts the ignore the base, where else are they going to go strategy.

For so long I've felt I had absolutely no representation, I'm really enjoying watching these public leeches squirm.

[Sanguine]

"You know Ted Cruz is not my favorite, by any means,” Graham...said."

A great endorsement!

[Wingnut]

The GOP may have to rally around Cruz!  I am relishing in that thought right now!   

Oh The Ironing!

 

[sinkspur]

[Bigun]

Graham: GOP may have to rally around Ted Cruz

The can either do that or watch the Libertarian party be taken over by conservatives!

[Sanguine]

The can either do that or watch the Libertarian party be taken over by conservatives!

That's an interesting idea. 

[libertybele]

I would love nothing more than to see Cruz as president.  I feel he has the ability, the talent and the tenacity to turn this country around and to make the U.S.A. respected around the globe again.

I found his speech last night somewhat unsettling.  At first I thought Ted, what are you doing??  He went after Trump. I was expecting something a little more uplifting.  At one point in time I thought he was going to suspend his campaign and then he called for unification of the party against Trump.  I at that time thought to myself; this is too funny ... the GOPe just may have to rally around Ted.  I'm hoping he limits his attacks on Trump on substance and not attack him on superfluous issues. Attacking Trump on anything other than the issues will be a disaster ... Rubio tanked because of it.

[Bigun]

That's an interesting idea.

The more you think about it the more interesting it becomes!

[truth_seeker]

The can either do that or watch the Libertarian party be taken over by conservatives!

Open borders, free dope for all, and weak apologetic blame America first foreign policy !!

Not to mention liberal social issues, etc. They very polar opposite of what "conservatives" have claimed to support.
 
Hurray for desperation and shrinking brains.

[NavyCanDo]

I can see why Rubio could be more appealing in a national election. He’s youthful looking, has a great looking family, very Kennedyesk in the way he can speak that holds a crowds attention. Could be said he is somewhat more electable than Cruz.  I like him.   But both he and Cruz in polls beat Hillary. Trump loses in those same polls.      As for Cruz,  for the life of me I don’t understand the problem that  so many have with Ted Cruz. Not as appealing as Rubio on the outside and his speeches are not as polished.   He gets away with telling half-truths in his ads – but its election season, we see that from them all. But he is very very smart and knows how Washington works and the dirty deals made on the house floor,  like few others willing to admit it. And  we can all agree he has stood up to the D.C. BS and that is why he has few friends, and that Washington Insiders are reluctant to back him, because he is on to their schemes.

I would be happy voting for either, but with the way things are going, if I was going to ask one of them to drop out, it would have to be Rubio. Then rally around Cruz.

[Bigun]

Open borders, free dope for all, and weak apologetic blame America first foreign policy !!

Not to mention liberal social issues, etc. They very polar opposite of what "conservatives" have claimed to support.
 
Hurray for desperation and shrinking brains.

They can be taken over from within just like any other party!

[Sanguine]

I would love nothing more than to see Cruz as president.  I feel he has the ability, the talent and the tenacity to turn this country around and to make the U.S.A. respected around the globe again.

I found his speech last night somewhat unsettling.  At first I thought Ted, what are you doing??  He went after Trump. I was expecting something a little more uplifting.  At one point in time I thought he was going to suspend his campaign and then he called for unification of the party against Trump.  I at that time thought to myself; this is too funny ... the GOPe just may have to rally around Ted.  I'm hoping he limits his attacks on Trump on substance and not attack him on superfluous issues. Attacking Trump on anything other than the issues will be a disaster ... Rubio tanked because of it.

LB, I didn't watch his speech (I'm "speeched" out), but I would guess that he was responding to the repeated, vile "Cruz lies" attacks from Trump.  When a person tries hard to be honest and honorable, attacks like Trump's strike right at the heart of what is most important to that person.  I expect that Trump is fully aware of that and that's why he does it.  I'm not defending it, just working on the "why".

[Sanguine]

Open borders, free dope for all, and weak apologetic blame America first foreign policy !!

Not to mention liberal social issues, etc. They very polar opposite of what "conservatives" have claimed to support.
 
Hurray for desperation and shrinking brains.

I guess that depends on how you define conservative.  If you're thinking right vs. left, where right is less government and left is more (as in socialism, communism, fascism), then conservative and libertarianism converge on the right.

I acknowledge that there has been a very effective effort to paint conservatives as churchy, always-in-your-business, want-to-control-what-you-do-in-your-bedroom type of people, but that doesn't fit with the principles that this country was founded on.  And, we conservatives want to conserve those principals.

[mountaineer]

Gee, just the other day Sen. Gramesty was publicly wishing for Cruz's death.   

[Bigun]

I guess that depends on how you define conservative.  If you're thinking right vs. left, where right is less government and left is more (as in socialism, communism, fascism), then conservative and libertarianism converge on the right.

I acknowledge that there has been a very effective effort to paint conservatives as churchy, always-in-your-business, want-to-control-what-you-do-in-your-bedroom type of people, but that doesn't fit with the principles that this country was founded on.  And, we conservatives want to conserve those principals.

 

[Right_in_Virginia]

The GOP may have to rally around Cruz!  I am relishing in that thought right now!   

So is Hillary.   

[Sanguine]

So is Hillary.   

Why do you say that?  The polls show Cruz beating Hillary.

[Right_in_Virginia]

I acknowledge that there has been a very effective effort to paint conservatives as churchy, always-in-your-business, want-to-control-what-you-do-in-your-bedroom type of people, but that doesn't fit with the principles that this country was founded on.  And, we conservatives want to conserve those principals. 

Ted Cruz is the poster child for the radical religious zealot group.  And it's not too far from the truth, unfortunately.

We will be running against a woman candidate and we're praying that our choice is someone who will successfully be painted as anti-women's rights.  He'll shut down Planned Parenthood.  He'll nominate judges who pass the anti-abortion litmus test.  He is anti-gay "rights".  He is moralistic, judgmental and extreme. About the nicest thing people will see is Ted Cruz reading nursery rhymes on the Senate floor as he fought to stop Social Security payments from reaching seniors.

And then we can only hope the opposition plays the tapes of Teddy's father proclaiming his conviction that his son's rise to the presidency is divinely pre-ordained as Ted Cruz raises his arms asking us to put on the armor of Christ.

Jumping from those small hurdles to the next:  In reality we are cheering for a candidate with little or no economic understanding (TPP), who never held a job within the private sector, who offers zero managerial experience, is conflicted on foreign policy (think Corker Amendment) and unreliable on immigration--and who  has not a single accomplishment in the US Senate--other than making enemies and talking about what he someday really, really, REALLY wants to accomplish. 

And in the shadows we have the CRBA "thing" just waiting patiently.

So let's do this.  Let's fight for Rafael Edward (Ted) Cruz all the way to the convention floor.  Let's cling to the belief that conservatism is the true will of the American people in the 21st century --- and let's cling to that with bloody fingernails.

I say it's finally time we learn just how deeply the Republican Party can sink into the dustbin of political history.

[Free Vulcan]

Ted Cruz is the poster child for the radical religious zealot group.  And it's not too far from the truth, unfortunately.

We will be running against a woman candidate and we're praying that our choice is someone who will successfully be painted as anti-women's rights.  He'll shut down Planned Parenthood.  He'll nominate judges who pass the anti-abortion litmus test.  He is anti-gay "rights".  He is moralistic, judgmental and extreme. About the nicest thing people will see is Ted Cruz reading nursery rhymes on the Senate floor as he fought to stop Social Security payments from reaching seniors.

And then we can only hope the opposition plays the tapes of Teddy's father proclaiming his conviction that his son's rise to the presidency is divinely pre-ordained as Ted Cruz raises his arms asking us to put on the armor of Christ.

Jumping from those small hurdles to the next:  In reality we are cheering for a candidate with little or no economic understanding (TPP), who never held a job within the private sector, who offers zero managerial experience, is conflicted on foreign policy (think Corker Amendment) and unreliable on immigration--and who  has not a single accomplishment in the US Senate--other than making enemies and talking about what he someday really, really, REALLY wants to accomplish. 

And in the shadows we have the CRBA "thing" just waiting patiently.

So let's do this.  Let's fight for Rafael Edward (Ted) Cruz all the way to the convention floor.  Let's cling to the belief that conservatism is the true will of the American people in the 21st century --- and let's cling to that with bloody fingernails.

I say it's finally time we learn just how deeply the Republican Party can sink into the dustbin of political history.

Were you writing that in support of Trump or Hillary?

[Free Vulcan]

The can either do that or watch the Libertarian party be taken over by conservatives!

I like the Constitution Party myself.

[Free Vulcan]

I wonder how much choking came with that back handed endorsement. Had to kill Graham to say that.

[Right_in_Virginia]

Were you writing that in support of Trump or Hillary?

Wow, now THAT's clever.   

What matters, Vulcan, is that what I wrote is the truth.    Conservative zealots will give the Presidency to Hillary Clinton. 

[Sanguine]

Ted Cruz is the poster child for the radical religious zealot group.  And it's not too far from the truth, unfortunately.

We will be running against a woman candidate and we're praying that our choice is someone who will successfully be painted as anti-women's rights.  He'll shut down Planned Parenthood.  He'll nominate judges who pass the anti-abortion litmus test.  He is anti-gay "rights".  He is moralistic, judgmental and extreme. About the nicest thing people will see is Ted Cruz reading nursery rhymes on the Senate floor as he fought to stop Social Security payments from reaching seniors.

And then we can only hope the opposition plays the tapes of Teddy's father proclaiming his conviction that his son's rise to the presidency is divinely pre-ordained as Ted Cruz raises his arms asking us to put on the armor of Christ.

Jumping from those small hurdles to the next:  In reality we are cheering for a candidate with little or no economic understanding (TPP), who never held a job within the private sector, who offers zero managerial experience, is conflicted on foreign policy (think Corker Amendment) and unreliable on immigration--and who  has not a single accomplishment in the US Senate--other than making enemies and talking about what he someday really, really, REALLY wants to accomplish. 

And in the shadows we have the CRBA "thing" just waiting patiently.

So let's do this.  Let's fight for Rafael Edward (Ted) Cruz all the way to the convention floor.  Let's cling to the belief that conservatism is the true will of the American people in the 21st century --- and let's cling to that with bloody fingernails.

I say it's finally time we learn just how deeply the Republican Party can sink into the dustbin of political history.

RIV, given where you live, I would have to guess that you have not been exposed to committed, honest, conservative politicians.  They are few in number, but they do exist.   Let's get Cruz elected, and restore your faith in your fellow man!