LB, I placed the word "extremism" in quotes deliberately; on most issues I can find common ground with Cruz but rest assured he will be attacked as an "extremist" by much of the media. The quotes were intended to convey that Cruz is generally perceived as extreme, not that I personally agree with that label. (Note that I didn't put fascist in quotes when addressing Trump - that man's a fascist and a present danger to the nation.
LB, I've said many times that I can support Cruz as the nominee. But he has never been one of my favorites for the nomination because I can see the problems he would have governing given all the enemies he's made. I'm a pragmatic, old-school conservative; I don't see an existential crisis where we need to "restore" the nation as you do. For me, I want to restore economic growth, reform entitlements, and appoint conservatives to the courts and the federal bureaucracy. Kasich and a GOP Congress can do all that. Cruz doesn't see the need to try to build a coalition with moderates and independents and that will likely cost him the election if he's the nominee.
While there's a world of difference between Cruz, a decent and honorable man, and Trump, the bottom line for me is that neither is electable. That's why I'm still holding out for John Kasich, who has demonstrated for many years his ability to lead and effect conservative change.
