Graham: GOP may have to rally around Ted Cruz

[truth_seeker]

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.

Reagan gave the religious right standing that it had previously not held with the GOP.

And by the 1990s and 2000s, it was expected for all candidates to go to Colorado Springs and seek approval from Dr. James Dobson, as if he sprinkled evangelical holy water on anybody who wanted standing.

The media didn't do that. The voters and institutions did that.

Abortion has been a litmus test for a long time. The GOP candidates are expected to hold positions that are only held by a minority of voters. The media didn't do that.

I personally do not care for the overt religiosity of Ted Cruz. He is more comfortable sounding like an angry preacher, than an economics professor.

Yes, of late he has added a brief remark about jobs, but it was only because I am sure his advisors told him it was part of why Trump was killing him.

[Free Vulcan]

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. 

Oh, my bad, because that was a near copy of what some Hillary supporter wrote on Facebook a couple of months back.

Need I remind you again that in the polls, Cruz beats Hillary, Trump does not?

[Right_in_Virginia]

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! 

Why and how would Ted Cruz restore my faith in mankind?  Give me three reasons.

[Right_in_Virginia]

Oh, my bad, because that was a near copy of what some Hillary support wrote on Facebook a couple of months back.

Need I remind you again that in the polls, Cruz beats Hillary, Trump does not?

Wow.  Making stuff all over the place, aren't you.

To settle your rattled mind, I am not on Facebook so I don't know what any write there--nor do I care.

[Free Vulcan]

Wow.  Making stuff all over the place, aren't you.

To settle your rattled mind, I am not on Facebook so I don't know what any write there--nor do I care.

Making what up? The polls or the liberal rants? Are you saying that just because you are not on Facebook, such rants don't exist?

Do you believe that trees falling in the forest don't make a sound because you didn't hear them?

It's already been posted here that Cruz beats Hillary in the polls, Trump does not. I'll post them again for you:

Poll   Date   Sample   MoE   Cruz (R) Clinton (D)    Spread
RCP Average   2/10 - 2/27   --   --   46.5   45.0   Cruz +1.5
CNN/ORC   2/24 - 2/27   920 RV   3.0   49   48   Cruz +1
FOX News   2/15 - 2/17   1031 RV   3.0   46   45   Cruz +1
Quinnipiac   2/10 - 2/15   1342 RV   2.7   46   43   Cruz +3
USA Today/Suffolk   2/11 - 2/15   1000 LV   3.0   45   44   Cruz +1

Poll   Date   Sample   MoE   Clinton (D) Trump (R) Spread
RCP Average   2/10 - 2/27   --   --   46.5   43.5   Clinton +3.0
CNN/ORC   2/24 - 2/27   920 RV   3.0   52   44   Clinton +8
FOX News   2/15 - 2/17   1031 RV   3.0   47   42   Clinton +5
USA Today/Suffolk   2/11 - 2/15   1000 LV   3.0   43   45   Trump +2
Quinnipiac   2/10 - 2/15   1342 RV   2.7   44   43   Clinton +1

Any other delusions I can bust today?

[Sanguine]

Why and how would Ted Cruz restore my faith in mankind?  Give me three reasons.

DC, I don't know what's gotten your knickers in such a twist over me, but go take it out somewhere else.  I don't work for you....

Now, if you want to come back and have a two-way discussion, I'm happy to participate.

[Right_in_Virginia]

DC, I don't know what's gotten your knickers in such a twist over me, but go take it out somewhere else.  I don't work for you....

Now, if you want to come back and have a two-way discussion, I'm happy to participate. 

First, I'm not DC.  (I do adore him, but we are separate entities.)

Second, my knickers are fine--although where this fits in our conversation is a bit confusing.

And the main point:  You said Cruz would restore my faith in mankind.  I'm asking you to support YOUR thesis with specific evidence. .I don't know how you can confuse this request with you serving as my employee.   Truly, your logic escapes me.   

I do, however,  look forward to learning how and why Ted Cruz will restore my faith in mankind.

Thanks.

[Right_in_Virginia]

Making what up? The polls or the liberal rants? Are you saying that just because you are not on Facebook, such rants don't exist?

Do you believe that trees falling in the forest don't make a sound because you didn't hear them?

It's already been posted here that Cruz beats Hillary in the polls, Trump does not. I'll post them again for you:

Poll   Date   Sample   MoE   Cruz (R) Clinton (D)    Spread
RCP Average   2/10 - 2/27   --   --   46.5   45.0   Cruz +1.5
CNN/ORC   2/24 - 2/27   920 RV   3.0   49   48   Cruz +1
FOX News   2/15 - 2/17   1031 RV   3.0   46   45   Cruz +1
Quinnipiac   2/10 - 2/15   1342 RV   2.7   46   43   Cruz +3
USA Today/Suffolk   2/11 - 2/15   1000 LV   3.0   45   44   Cruz +1

Poll   Date   Sample   MoE   Clinton (D) Trump (R) Spread
RCP Average   2/10 - 2/27   --   --   46.5   43.5   Clinton +3.0
CNN/ORC   2/24 - 2/27   920 RV   3.0   52   44   Clinton +8
FOX News   2/15 - 2/17   1031 RV   3.0   47   42   Clinton +5
USA Today/Suffolk   2/11 - 2/15   1000 LV   3.0   43   45   Trump +2
Quinnipiac   2/10 - 2/15   1342 RV   2.7   44   43   Clinton +1

Any other delusions I can bust today? 

Sure.  Tell me how long these early poll numbers hold up under the full frontal assault from the Clintons and the MSM. 

[Longiron]

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

Better him than RUBIO. They HATE CRUZ but fear TRUMP. Now that is a good choice. The Establishment loses either way. Both TRUMP and CRUZ are saying things that will never be done to the establishment now that they realize BUSHIE is not happening, neither is RUBIO and they will have to settle for CRUZ or TRUMP. Many behind the scene deals are in the works. Hopefully for once the American people win a little bit! 

[Free Vulcan]

Sure.  Tell me how long these early poll numbers hold up under the full frontal assault from the Clintons and the MSM.

Against Trump or Cruz?

[Jazzhead]

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

The threat of political armageddon does tends to focus the mind! 

I'm for Kasich, who of course faces his own last stand in Ohio on the 15th.   I give him credit for laying out a marker - if he doesn't beat Trump in Ohio, he's out.   If that's the case,  I'll echo Graham - it's time for anti-fascist conservatives of all stripes to unite behind Cruz.   

[Right_in_Virginia]

Against Trump or Cruz?

Good point!   ^-^   Against Cruz.

[Sanguine]

First, I'm not DC.  (I do adore him, but we are separate entities.)

Second, my knickers are fine--although where this fits in our conversation is a bit confusing.

And the main point:  You said Cruz would restore my faith in mankind.  I'm asking you to support YOUR thesis with specific evidence. .I don't know how you can confuse this request with you serving as my employee.   Truly, your logic escapes me.   

I do, however,  look forward to learning how and why Ted Cruz will restore my faith in mankind.

Thanks.

My mistake, confusing you for DC.  My apologies to you both.

You weren't asking me anything, if you go back and read your post.

And don't play cute with the "I don't know how you can confuse this request with you serving as my employee.   Truly, your logic escapes me.   "  Why bother with the games?

I'm happy to answer this question.  It'll be a few minutes.  I want to be thoughtful.

[Free Vulcan]

Good point!   ^-^   Against Cruz.

Right, because Hillary will use the velvet gloves for Trump. She's already beating him up on the KKK debacle.

But that's not the point. The point is the Trump campaign has painted Cruz as the evil, dirty, lying hack who'll pull any dirty smear  to win the election.

Until that is we get talking about the general, then suddenly Cruz isn't tough enough to take on Hillary. It's like the old Al Gore Say Anything days.

Maybe Trump is getting Alzheimers?

[musiclady]

Oh, my bad, because that was a near copy of what some Hillary supporter wrote on Facebook a couple of months back.

Need I remind you again that in the polls, Cruz beats Hillary, Trump does not?

A point that needs to be reiterated.

Cruz beats Hillary.  Trump does not.

We need to stop Democrat Trump, and nominate a conservative.

It appears that Cruz is the strongest candidate to get behind.

[musiclady]

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

A great endorsement!

Yeah, but I'll bet he threw up in his mouth a little just going that far.   ^-^

[Right_in_Virginia]

My mistake, confusing you for DC.  My apologies to you both.

You weren't asking me anything, if you go back and read your post.

And don't play cute with the "I don't know how you can confuse this request with you serving as my employee.   Truly, your logic escapes me.   "  Why bother with the games?

I'm happy to answer this question.  It'll be a few minutes.  I want to be thoughtful.

Okay.  Thanks.

[Right_in_Virginia]

Right, because Hillary will use the velvet gloves for Trump. She's already beating him up on the KKK debacle.

Yes, she has.  But don't be shy, you've helped.

But that's not the point. The point is the Trump campaign has painted Cruz as the evil, dirty, lying hack who'll pull any dirty smear  to win the election.

That may be true.  Let Cruz defend himself. 

Truth be told, Cruz being a "dirty, lying hack who'll pull any smear to win the election" does not surprise me.  He is a career politician.  It's the essence of his resume---and it's that essence of his resume that concerns me.  Now is not the time to elevate another lightweight--another politician in his 1st term as a US Senator who is lacking the management acumen or hands on experience in global relationships, global economics or, dare I say, the art of the deal.   Cruz mirrors Obama in so very many ways:  eligibility for the office, the depth of his life experience, political experience and business experience.  But, Cruz is a zealot on our side, so I guess we're willing to risk an even bigger mess with him. 

Until that is we get talking about the general, then suddenly Cruz isn't tough enough to take on Hillary. It's like the old Al Gore Say Anything days. 

We are in the general election.  Right now.  And Cruz is not helping us win in November.

Maybe Trump is getting Alzheimers?

If you've got to go there, you've lost the debate.

[aligncare]

Yes, she has.  But don't be shy, you've helped.

That may be true.  Let Cruz defend himself. 

Truth be told, Cruz being a "dirty, lying hack who'll pull any smear to win the election" does not surprise me.  He is a career politician.  It's the essence of his resume---and it's that essence of his resume that concerns me.  Now is not the time to elevate another lightweight--another politician in his 1st term as a US Senator who is lacking the management acumen or hands on experience in global relationships, global economics or, dare I say, the art of the deal.   Cruz mirrors Obama in so very many ways:  eligibility for the office, the depth of his life experience, political experience and business experience.  But, Cruz is a zealot on our side, so I guess we're willing to risk an even bigger mess with him. 
 
We are in the general election.  Right now.  And Cruz is not helping us win in November.

If you've got to go there, you've lost the debate.

A brilliant post, RiV. The facts you laid out are indisputable. It is common knowledge Rubio is the establishment's cabana boy.

[libertybele]

Cruz is NOT a career politician and has stood up to the Washington elite.  Exactly, what dirty tricks are you blaming Cruz for??  If any candidate is FOR the PEOPLE and NOT Washington it's Cruz.  Trump has stated that he needs to become more establishment...interesting that supporters ignore the obvious.

[Sanguine]

Cruz is NOT a career politician and has stood up to the Washington elite.  Exactly, what dirty tricks are you blaming Cruz for??  If any candidate is FOR the PEOPLE and NOT Washington it's Cruz.  Trump has stated that he needs to become more establishment...interesting that supporters ignore the obvious.

Yes, what dirty tricks?

[Sanguine]

My mistake, confusing you for DC.  My apologies to you both.

You weren't asking me anything, if you go back and read your post.

And don't play cute with the "I don't know how you can confuse this request with you serving as my employee.   Truly, your logic escapes me.   "  Why bother with the games?

I'm happy to answer this question.  It'll be a few minutes.  I want to be thoughtful.

OK, three ways that Cruz can restore your faith in humankind:
1. Cruz is willing to stand on principle, even to his personal detriment, for instance trying to help a gay escort who felt he was being wronged:  http://reason.com/blog/2015/07/17/gawker-helps-gay-escort-blackmail-timoth
2. Cruz understands and will honor the Constitution, unlike any other candidate in the race,
3. Cruz and 46 other GOP senators wrote to the leaders of Iran, warning that any nuclear deal Iran cuts with the Obama administration is not binding unless ratified by Congress,
4. He argued and won the Medellin v. Texas case at the U.S. Supreme Court in, where the World Court in the Hague had ordered the U.S. government to enforce the Vienna Convention in a Texas death penalty case.  This is apparently the basis of the antipathy that GWB has for Cruz, since W instructed Texas to conform to the World Court's directive.
5. He is a completely grass-roots supported candidate, and finally,
6. He has proven that he can win against great odds.

I'm not really sure what you want, so I'm throwing a lot of spaghetti at the wall. It's all good spaghetti.

[Carling]

I do, however,  look forward to learning how and why Ted Cruz will restore my faith in mankind.

Thanks.

I'm a Cruz supporter and I'm scratching my head at that post.  A man is just a man, nothing more, nothing less.  I put faith in those I know, those I love, and in God, and seek no other human that doesn't know me as some sort of representative for all of mankind.

[NavyCanDo]

I like Glenn Beck's EVERYONE WINS, except for Trump and Hillary plan.     Ted makes a deal with Rubio to run as his VP. Remember Rubio had to give up his senate seat. He loses Florida, he has no place to go.
As VP Rubio can pick up the torch in 8 years and run for President, with that gang of 8 crap far behind him. Carson runs for Rubio's vacated senate seat, and Rand Paul becomes Secretary of the Treasury, which controlling spending is his true calling.

[Sanguine]

I like Glenn Beck's EVERYONE WINS, except for Trump and Hillary plan.     Ted makes a deal with Rubio to run as his VP. Remember Rubio had to give up his senate seat. He loses Florida, he has no place to go.
As VP Rubio can pick up the torch in 8 years and run for President, with that gang of 8 crap far behind him. Carson runs for Rubio's vacated senate seat, and Rand Paul becomes Secretary of the Treasury, which controlling spending is his true calling.

I like it.  Damn, we could actually make some positive changes with that scenario!