Interesting that you mention respecting Jeb Bush more than Carson. I find myself feeling the same way. Carson betrayed everything he said in his campaign when he hooked his cart to an evil, immoral man. Bush, at least, has stayed consistent in his opposition.
And as a Cruz supporter myself (after Walker dropped out), I would also lose all respect for him if he supported a man who doesn't have a single value in common with him.
Carson and Palin - nearly identical opportunists. Wearing their "Christian" badge of honor when it suits them. Look up the Matthew 18 principle, and then look again at what Cruz did 3 or 4 times,
in private, but where Carson and crew publicly slammed Cruz for it every time. Then Carson, like Palin, went 180 degress out of phase, and endorsed the polar opposite of everything that they professed to believe.
Worse than that, the lied about other Christians and conservatives in the campaign, and lied about them to raise their "Trump" profile.
I spent both time and money on Palin, and less on Carson. What a waste of time. What a crock..... they both were.