Trump: I’m not going to mock Ted Cruz as “Lyin’ Ted” anymore, but no, seriously, he’s a liar

[Sanguine]

I wouldn't even try!
Reading words on a page is never the same as watching it live!
It was hysterical!
It was all done jokingly playing with the crowd.

You think that's funny?  To smear a decent fellow candidates and his wife and father?  How is that funny?  Serious question -

[Mechanicos]

Do you consider that a bad thing?

Depends on how its handled. If hes smart he can flip it and it will help him. If he lets it fester or trips up it could hurt him.

[Henry Noel]

It's like the pot calling the snowman black.

[HoustonSam]

Depends on how its handled. If hes smart he can flip it and it will help him. If he lets it fester or trips up it could hurt him.

Then the same applies to democrat use of anti-Trump activism now.  Whether or not it's bad depends on how Trump handles it.

[Mechanicos]

Then the same applies to democrat use of anti-Trump activism now.  Whether or not it's bad depends on how Trump handles it.

IMHO Trump is handling #neverTrump well. Its lost its conservative (Republican at least) leadership and is shrinking in number daily. Hes not attacking it and is making both pleasing actions (judges etc) as well as overtures of make-nice. Two things are becoming clear too: 1 #neverTrump is now mostly left wing controlled since its Republican leaders and money have quit. 2. It was not that large to start with, mostly loyal Cruz people. A lot of #neverTrump in the primary was GOPe people attached to the Cruz camp - they were not really Cruz supporters and left the ship after Cruz dropped out. Many of them are Cruz designated delegates....

[HoustonSam]

IMHO Trump is handling #neverTrump well. Its lost its conservative (Republican at least) leadership and is shrinking in number daily. Hes not attacking it and is making both pleasing actions (judges etc) as well as overtures of make-nice. Two things are becoming clear too: 1 #neverTrump is now mostly left wing controlled since its Republican leaders and money have quit. 2. It was not that large to start with, mostly loyal Cruz people. A lot of #neverTrump in the primary was GOPe people attached to the Cruz camp - they were not really Cruz supporters and left the ship after Cruz dropped out. Many o f them are Cruz designated delegates....

My point is not about Trump's response.  He's having some good moments and some bad moments.

My point is about your argument that anti-Trump activism is now anti-Republican party activism, and that anyone engaging in it is directly supporting the democrats.

You have now advocated two standards, depending on the potential target of democrat attacks.  If Trump is the potential target, then those who spoke against him are at fault.  If Cruz is the target, then Cruz is at fault if he doesn't parry the attack.

[Mechanicos]

My point is not about Trump's response.  He's having some good moments and some bad moments.

My point is about your argument that anti-Trump activism is now anti-Republican party activism, and that anyone engaging in it is directly supporting the democrats.

You have now advocated two standards, depending on the potential target of democrat attacks.  If Trump is the potential target, then those who spoke against him are at fault.  If Cruz is the target, then Cruz is at fault if he doesn't parry the attack.

At this point in Time Trump is the Republican Party nominee for all intents and purposes. Any and all attempts to derail the official nomination at the Convention are anti-republican party as nothing coming out if such maneuvering will win in the General against the Democrat and will destroy the party costing us the house and Senate as well.

As the Republican Party nominee he holds a position higher then just himself. Hes the top ranking Party member on the ticket and what happens to him effects all the party. A military equivalent is he is now the Senior officer and like in the service the Rank itself deserves respect more then the man wearing it. Court Marshals happen over disrespecting the rank for example.

Since #neverTrump no longer has conservative leadership, nor does it have conservative sources for its material  it is clear its a Democrat run operation now with the agenda of splitting the Republican base and depressing Turn Out, both serve the advantage of the Democrat ONLY. No Third party will win their purpose is to split the vote like Perot did.

If Hillary or another Sociopath Marxist takes over we get at least 3 and possibly 5 Supreme Court Justices of the Same caliber as Obama nominates and we lose both houses. There will be no more Republican Party nor will there be anything to stop the Democrat America-destroying agenda. It will be over. No new party, no sovereign country, no guns, no free choice and Christianity will likely be illegal, etc. at the end of eight years of continued Obama-agenda rule there will be nothing of America to recognize. We will be like the EU only for North America. 

There is nothing principled or conservative or moral in that.

[Right_in_Virginia]

Assurances from Trump are meaningless, the man is pure scum

No Trump is not.  But, you already know that.

[Right_in_Virginia]

I wouldn't even try!
Reading words on a page is never the same as watching it live!
It was hysterical!
It was all done jokingly playing with the crowd.

Agree.  Trump's humor is one of the reason people just like him so much.

[Oceander]

I will continue to mock Trump, in part because he is a liar.

[Henry Noel]

At this point in Time Trump is the Republican Party nominee for all intents and purposes. Any and all attempts to derail the official nomination at the Convention are anti-republican party as nothing coming out if such maneuvering will win in the General against the Democrat and will destroy the party costing us the house and Senate as well.

You've told that one before. 

[SZonian]

So he "wins" and steamrolls the Constitution in the process of "making America great again", to what end?

If Trump were as smart as people make him out to be, he would be benefiting from Conservatives helping push him to at least a more solid center and hopefully a center right position on those areas he's weak in. 

Trump should have already engaged with them and be trying to form a "coalition" so to speak.  The art of the deal, right?  Isn't he supposed to be some great negotiator and not some petulant ass who gets his knickers in a knot every time someone says something about him he doesn't like...instead, he further alienates many and then it's the fault of those who are alienated that they don't "get on the train"?  That's projection...liberals do that, not conservatives.

No, he needs to be reaching out to those who have doubts about him and showing them that he is willing to learn, willing to change his more liberal positions to conservative ones, etc.

He's making similar mistakes that Schwarzenegger did in CA...got the populists riled up, rode into office and was then squashed like a bug when he insulted every legislator, union boss and government employee in CA with his over the top rhetoric.  He's got to stop attacking those who can help him.

Cruz essentially said he's watching and listening to Trump because of their differences, there's nothing offensive in that statement, yet...he's mocked and ridiculed once again.  Sheesh.

[PoloSec]

Trump is not just a sore loser he is a sore winner as well.

How is it so many cannot read or hear his words that consistently display a lack of ability to barely string together two coherent sentences and not conclude there is something seriously wrong with this guy.  His whole demeanor is a vexatious collection of insults, contradictions and cliche's, it must be the image of that big beautiful wall blocking their minds eye.

[catfish1957]

Trump is absolute scum.  Just read the above again, and then say you can support this man for president.

Cruz should NEVER endorse him.

As much as I admire and respect Sen. Cruz, I sure hope he gives his Orangeness the finger.

[catfish1957]

What would convince you?  What do you need to hear?

EXACTLY...he will say anything or change his position back and forth to whore for votes.  He's a POS plain and simple.

[geronl]

The deadbeat candidate continues to attack his own alleged party. He will drain it of funds after the convention because he can't raise it himself and he won't spend a dime of his own money. Down-ballot Republicans aren't just anchored to this fool, they're going to find themselves not getting $$$ from the party because it all goes to Trump.

The GOP is probably going to lose Congress whether Trump manages to win or not.

[catfish1957]

I wouldn't even try!
Reading words on a page is never the same as watching it live!
It was hysterical!
It was all done jokingly playing with the crowd.

Respectfully, isn't hard to differentiate the joking Donald, versus the one who (1) possibly colluded with Stone/Pecker/NI story of affairs (2) Accused his father of killing JFK? (3) Disparring tweets and pics of Cruz' wife? (4) Created the absolutely despicable false meme "Lyin Ted".  And this is just Cruz.  How about the countless others he has crossed the line on insults and personal attacks?

What Trump supporters see as acceptable behavior has given him a identity of a pariah that many of us conservatives view as unacceptable under any circumstance.

[Doug Loss]

Since #neverTrump no longer has conservative leadership, nor does it have conservative sources for its material  it is clear its a Democrat run operation now with the agenda of splitting the Republican base and depressing Turn Out, both serve the advantage of the Democrat ONLY. No Third party will win their purpose is to split the vote like Perot did.

You keep making that claim.  It isn't true, and I'm pretty sure you know it isn't.  Those of us who can't vote for either Trump or Clinton are not controlled by the Democrats (that's risible, and I'm a bit amazed you can think anyone would believe that claim).  Our agenda is to vote our principles, since neither of the major party candidates are remotely acceptable to any thinking conservative.

[Oceander]

What would convince you?  What do you need to hear?

"I quit.  I realize that I am unfit for the office of president and rather than contribute to a Clinton victory in November I am stepping aside so a qualified candidate can beat Clinton in November."

Anything else is just truthful hyperbole.  He has so thoroughly poisoned the well that nothing else will do.

[HoustonSam]

At this point in Time Trump is the Republican Party nominee for all intents and purposes. Any and all attempts to derail the official nomination at the Convention are anti-republican party as nothing coming out if such maneuvering will win in the General against the Democrat and will destroy the party costing us the house and Senate as well.

As the Republican Party nominee he holds a position higher then just himself. Hes the top ranking Party member on the ticket and what happens to him effects all the party. A military equivalent is he is now the Senior officer and like in the service the Rank itself deserves respect more then the man wearing it. Court Marshals happen over disrespecting the rank for example.

Since #neverTrump no longer has conservative leadership, nor does it have conservative sources for its material  it is clear its a Democrat run operation now with the agenda of splitting the Republican base and depressing Turn Out, both serve the advantage of the Democrat ONLY. No Third party will win their purpose is to split the vote like Perot did.

If Hillary or another Sociopath Marxist takes over we get at least 3 and possibly 5 Supreme Court Justices of the Same caliber as Obama nominates and we lose both houses. There will be no more Republican Party nor will there be anything to stop the Democrat America-destroying agenda. It will be over. No new party, no sovereign country, no guns, no free choice and Christianity will likely be illegal, etc. at the end of eight years of continued Obama-agenda rule there will be nothing of America to recognize. We will be like the EU only for North America. 

There is nothing principled or conservative or moral in that.

All you've done is re-state the standard you've developed by which no Republican should criticize Trump, and state the well-worn argument that he's better than Hillary.  Nowhere do you justify the inconsistency of your position regarding potential Democrat attacks on Cruz using trash invented by Trump.

Having said that, it's also only fair to acknowledge that I agree with you on the fact of Trump being the nominee and that attempts to change that outcome would lead to chaos.

[catfish1957]

All you've done is re-state the standard you've developed by which no Republican should criticize Trump, and state the well-worn argument that he's better than Hillary.  Nowhere do you justify the inconsistency of your position regarding potential Democrat attacks on Cruz using trash invented by Trump.

Having said that, it's also only fair to acknowledge that I agree with you on the fact of Trump being the nominee and that attempts to change that outcome would lead to chaos.

Got to hand it to him, he's got those talking points down pat.

[Hoodat]

What would convince you?  What do you need to hear?

He could act like an adult for starters.  It would also be refreshing to hear him say anything, anything at all, which indicates he has some understanding of the Constitution.

We are almost a year into it now.  Yet Trump still speaks as though he couldn't pass a fifth grade civics test.

[Oceander]

All you've done is re-state the standard you've developed by which no Republican should criticize Trump, and state the well-worn argument that he's better than Hillary.  Nowhere do you justify the inconsistency of your position regarding potential Democrat attacks on Cruz using trash invented by Trump.

Having said that, it's also only fair to acknowledge that I agree with you on the fact of Trump being the nominee and that attempts to change that outcome would lead to chaos.

Chaos in Cleveland or an inevitable loss to Clinton in November ... I'll take chaos and the possibility, however small, of beating Clinton over a Trump-guaranteed win for Clinton. 

[OldSaltUSN]

I notice none of stumpy's lackeys are on any threads defending its putative "honor" now that multiple offers of ten and twenty million dollars have been preferred for the erstwhile debate between the lying socialist scum and Bernie Sanders.  I guess we are forced to conclude that stumpy is a chicken, as well as a pathological,  serial liar.

I remember Trump in the debate bragging about being ready to debate anyone one-on-one, anywhere, any time.  I can't recall if this was directed at Cruz specifically, but believe it was, during a three-way dust up with Cruz, Rubio, and Trump.  That was at the last, or next to last debate, I believe.

As soon as the campaign WAS one-on-one (plus a meaningless spare anti-Cruz candidate), Trump declined further debates, and never mentioned it again.   Trump absolutely understood that he'd get his clock cleaned by Cruz one-on-one, "anytime, anywhere", and decided self-interested cowardice was the better part of valor.

How anyone can look at Trump's record, particularly his record of doing nothing for conservatives, conservative policies, or the conservative movement, his entire life, how he consistently supported anti-conservatives, and then hear his abusive campaign rhetoric, and then declare Trump a "second Reagan", is beyond me.   It's beyond me, that is, if they're sincere and honest in their words, and not just committing Machiavellian style Trumpisms, just because it sounds good in their own ears.

Lyin' Ted?!  Give me a break.  I know a liar when I hear one, and a know an honest man.  Trump is the former, in spades, and Cruz is the latter.

#NeverTrump
because I'm
#ForeverChristian
and an
#OathKeeper

[geronl]

You keep making that claim.  It isn't true, and I'm pretty sure you know it isn't.  Those of us who can't vote for either Trump or Clinton are not controlled by the Democrats (that's risible, and I'm a bit amazed you can think anyone would believe that claim).  Our agenda is to vote our principles, since neither of the major party candidates are remotely acceptable to any thinking conservative.

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