Like Donkey Kong. Ted Cruz scored a surprising third-place finish in New Hampshire in yesterdays first-in-the-nation primary, and now it looks like hes going for a knockout before South Carolina. Cruz tweeted out the campaigns latest web ad after his victory, one that takes aim at the winner, Donald Trump. The ad depicts children playing with their new Donald Trump action figure, and says what he does most is pretend to be a Republican:
Its a tour de force of counter-Trump arguments. The ad manages to mention Trumps friendship with Hillary Clinton, Nancy Pelosi, and Harry Reid (and adds in a shot at Anthony Weiner, too). Bailouts and Too Big To Fail get mentioned, but its Trumps support for eminent domain that gets most of the attention:
GIRL DOLL: Check out my house, Mr. Trump!
TRUMP DOLL: Thats a lousy house! Im gonna take your house with eminent domain and park my limos there.
VOICEOVER: We wouldnt tolerate these values in our children. Why would we want them in a president?
Ridicule can be a powerful tool in politics, and it might be the only kind of attack that will work on Trump. His supporters dont appear to care much about Trumps lack of policy substance and consistency; they like his attitude and his ability to shift the Overton window on acceptable debate. Trump has a thin skin, though, and Cruz does not. If he can force Trump to demonstrate that thin skin, it might undermine the perception of Trumps toughness, while still appealing on policy grounds to other voters.
This still holds some risk. Some voters might not appreciate the use of children to make these points (perhaps especially the reference to Anthony Weiner, considering the context). Cruz got some media heat for using his own kids in a Saturday Night Live skit, which was ludicrous, but this might reopen that debate. Trump and his supporters will complain that its a low blow, but since Trump himself often ridicules his opponents with personal attacks, thats a non-starter. In fact, Cruz might be counting on that reaction to counter Trumps recent attack on him as a pussy, to demonstrate that Trump might be suffering from a case of projection.
Its a good time for Cruz to go on the attack. It got lost in the John Kasich shuffle last night, but Cruz far outperformed expectations in New Hampshire, beating out Jeb Bush for third place. Combined with his win in Iowa, Cruz has significant momentum, and is aiming to take over the race by beating the other leading candidate rather than punching downward or sideways, as Team Jeb is doing. This ad could steal some of the post-primary buzz from Kasich, and set up a real fight in South Carolina.
Poster Comment:
Cute ad, maybe a little too cute.
Cruz may need stronger ads than that to dent Trump. I would guess we'll see Bush unload on Trump too. Bush has nothing left to lose by doing so and will certainly lose if he can't find a way to take on Trump.
Trump the magic RINO gave too Billy C and froclicked in the divorced mist with wives One, Two, and Threee Little Prince Abdula, loved that rascal Trump and bought his yachts and bankrupt plots and other fancy stuff... ----------------------
LOL. Please tell how Der Trumpenfuhrer is "conservative" again Uncle Whitey - that's an awesome bedtime fairy tale!
His supporters dont appear to care much about Trumps lack of policy substance
See, this is why Republicans are morons: they're deaf.
Trump is popular with me, and millions others, BECAUSE OF his policy substance: close the border and deport the aliens is SUBSTANCE. STOP Muslim immigration for the moment is substance. Cut off fast-track trade power and cancel trade deals that disfavor American workers is substance. Deport illegals is substance. End the carried interest tax deduction is substance. End Obamacare, but establish coverage for uninsured people is substance. Make peace with Russia and ally with them in the War on Terror is substance.
It's all substance. It's just completely opposed to everything that Republican crapweasels want.
Trump is engaged in a hostile takeover of the Republican Party, and he is winning.
When Republican types say things like the above, they are talking about people like me as though we are brainless idiots with no understanding of policy, and no care for it, with magic dust in our eyes.
Cruz has significant momentum, and is aiming to take over the race by beating the other leading candidate rather than punching downward or sideways, as Team Jeb is doing. This ad could steal some of the post-primary buzz from Kasich, and set up a real fight in South Carolina.
Cruz loves free trade, won't build the wall, won't deport the illegals, won't stop the Muslim jihadis from coming in, wants to impose a no-fly zone on the RUSSIANS!, and would never dream of touching tax benefits for Goldman Sachs.
He offers Republicanism. Trump offers change in the direction that the country wants.
If Cruz manages to be the Republican nominee, Trump should run as an Independent. The issue is not who gets to head the Republican ticket. The issue is: what does the Republican candidate (and party) stand for.
Trump and Cruz are very different. Trump's popularity is based on being right, and being specific, regarding immigration and trade, and Islam, and Russia and the war.
Trump is popular with me, and millions others, BECAUSE OF his policy substance: close the border and deport the aliens is SUBSTANCE. STOP Muslim immigration for the moment is substance.
You forget all the flipflops he's already contorted through. Deport them all (but let 90% back in immediately with green cards). Et cetera. Trump is also on record as favoring amnesty with a pathway to citizenship. IOW, not much different than "self-deporting" Mitt was. And we have cause to believe Mitt was fibbing too.
"Repeal Obamacare!" (And replace it with universal healthcare coverage, Medicare for all!).
I don't see how you can seriously pretend that Trump has taken a single stand that you can trust once he gets your vote.
Cruz loves free trade, won't build the wall, won't deport the illegals, won't stop the Muslim jihadis from coming in, wants to impose a no-fly zone on the RUSSIANS!, and would never dream of touching tax benefits for Goldman Sachs.
I think you're wrong. And I think Cruz would do a lot more on all those issues than Trump ever would.
I don't see how you can seriously pretend that Trump has taken a single stand that you can trust once he gets your vote.
Let me explain it to you, then.
Trump is doing what Republicans have done for years.
The difference is that this time, his initial positions, the ones he's thought about and says, are what he thinks.
Then the flopping is Trump lying to the Left to make them feel better.
So, he talks, hard about immigration, building the wall, deporting...he talks about that in all fora, and he means it. Then when confronted by liberal media and people trying to nail him as a racist, he lies and says what they want to hear.
Republicans have been doing this FOR YEARS, but in the other direction.
And the elite and savvy Republicans have always ignored boob bait for Bubbas, because THEY KNOW that the Republicans lie about popular things in order to get in power and do what they are really going to do.
Watch Donald, as I do, and you realize that he is doing the same thing. The difference is that he is actually a populist. His "flip-flops" are lies he is telling TO THE LEFT in order to persuade them that he's not as aggressive and nationalist as he really is.
All politicians are liars. Republicans lie to me and then do the opposite. But Trump is in the unique position of standing for what I want, pretty consistently, and then lying to the media and the Left pretending to be more moderate than it is.
And it is as obvious to those of us who are in the popular media that he is doing this, as it is when the Republican elites know that their candidates are throwing out Boob Bait for Bubba's.
Trump's positions are against trade with Communists, against uncontrolled immigration, and for alliance with Russia. He makes that really clear everywhere.
He "flip-flops" when called out by the leftist media, and tells them the sweet lies they need to hear.
He's doing what all politicians do. If you are discerning, you will realize that he's just doing it from the Right, as opposed to the usual lies, which come down from the Country Club, or from the Left.
In war, deceit is a legitimate tactic. Gideon practiced it.
Americans who have no experience with, or knowledge of, tyranny believe that only terrorists will experience the unchecked power of the state. They will believe this until it happens to them, or their children, or their friends.
I think you're wrong. And I think Cruz would do a lot more on all those issues than Trump ever would.
We will find out some of this, because Trump is going to be the next President, but Cruz will never be President.
So, what we will discover is that Trump will use the media to stay popular, while hitting immigration and trade issues hard.
After all, Congress GAVE the President "fast-track" authority. He HAS tremendous authority over trade. That authority was given with the idea he was going to FACILITATE it for the economic masters. But HE can use that power to DERAIL it where it's bad for his constituency. And he will.
The Chief Executive has control over the INS, the Border Patrol, the Attorney General, and Federal Law enforcement. He can reverse the policies that have tried to keep locals from enforcing the law. He doesn't have to go to Congress or court to do that. He has the authority ex officio.
Trade and immigration are two areas where President Trump will have nearly plenary power to act to enforce existing law without having to consult with anybody. Every President has had that. None of them have WANTED to, so the Border stayed open. Trump WANTS to. And he will. Nobody can stop him.
And that right there: a closed border, a wall, deportation of illegals, and the kebosh on bad trade agreements - that Trump will move on at once, and won't need Congress to do it.
Rubio was for the wall and for deportation too. Until he got to D.C.
Cruz was pretty average on legalization/amnesty back when he was a legal wizard for the Bush administration. He got a lot more anti-illegals when running for office.
Much as I favor Cruz over Trump on a broad range of issues, I see no guarantees Cruz won't go soft again on illegals too if he became prez. Same as I think Trump would be. With Trump, I'm certain he'll betray us. With Cruz, I think he would seriously consider it and do a calculus on whether he could get re-elected if he did it.
It's a lot easier to pander to voters than to actually get things done as president. But I think Cruz is far more devious than Trump and far better at grasping what he could (and could not) get away with before the courts reeled him in.
Cruz is more of a True Believer, an ideologue. And Trump only believes in himself and his desire to be prez. Trump would cut deals Left and Right. I think mostly Left because he has been a Dem for a long time in a big Blue Dem city/state.
If you think Trump is a liar why would you vote for him?
That makes no sense for a "Christian".
I think all people are liars. And I'm pretty sure all politicians are. If I didn't vote for liars, I wouldn't vote.
In Trump's case, his lies are lies to conceal what he is going to do (like all politician lies are). In his case, what he's going to do is what I AGREE with.
Deceit is part of warfare. Politics is war by other means. We're in a titanic struggle for the future. That a political leader is misleading the enemy is part of the fight.
Politicians lie, because our system does not elect honest men.
Aspects of his ideology are repulsive, and the people are not going to vote for that ideology, or for him.
So, this election cycle is going to be pretty bitter from your standpoint. You're destined to lose no matter what.
You don't like Trump, so when he wins the nomination and then the White House, you're going to be unhappy.
You don't like Hillary or any other Democrat, so if Cruz somehow gets nominated, when he loses, you will be unhappy.
I'm actually happy about American politics for the first time in my adult life. Trump gets it on just exactly the life and death issues, and he's winning. So there's hope, from my perspective, for the first time.
I guess the sunshine breaking out for me means that darkness is falling on people who disagree. Oh well.
I'm actually happy about American politics for the first time in my adult life. Trump gets it on just exactly the life and death issues, and he's winning. So there's hope, from my perspective, for the first time.
Yeah, finally a Republican you can give your heart to without reservation.
You realize I've seriously downgraded my estimates of your intelligence. I mean that. I'm not just saying it to be mean. I actually think less of you for falling for this shameless con man.
You realize I've seriously downgraded my estimates of your intelligence. I mean that. I'm not just saying it to be mean. I actually think less of you for falling for this shameless con man.
Oh well, I'll just have to live with that I guess.
They mention that remittances from illegals and green card holders (resident aliens) now exceeds Mexico's oil revenue. And that Trump could move to seize those remittances, especially if they're from illegals.
Anyway, HotGas doesn't post much pro-Trump stuff so you might want to skim through this one.
Sorry, forgot to ping you to my previous post in case you want to consider whether Trump really could make Mexico pay for a wall. Anyway, they discussed it and HA is not very friendly to Trump.
Oh well, I'll just have to live with that I guess.
I think you know he's a con man. Yet you just keep supporting him.
I think you're hoping he utterly destroys the GOP so your imaginary pro-life Popery party will rise to reign supreme or some other daft fantasy like the ones where the Latinos will turn America Catholic (instead of America turning the Latinos godless which is what has happened across the board).
My apologies I ping you to the same video. Been traveling and missed this thread.
For when we were still without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. For scarcely for a righteous man will one die; yet perhaps for a good man someone would even dare to die. But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. (Romans 5:6-8)
#36. To: buckeroo, Too Conservative, A K A Stone (#34)
You are an incredibly whining puppet, controlled by the powerful forces you are happy about.
Not hardly.
I simply do not share your ideology.
If we were to list out the points of ideological difference between us, we would start with religion and move on down from there through concepts of of the sanctity of life, of war, of economics and finance, protection of the weak, etc.
We have different values, with only few points of intersection. And I am no more likely to embrace your ideals - because I think they are wrong - then you are to embrace mine.
In this, you and Too Conservative and A K A Stone are similar.