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Title: How Cruz Can Win
Source:
HotAir
URL Source: http://hotair.com/archives/2016/03/10/how-cruz-can-win/
Published: Mar 10, 2016
Author: Allan Bourdius
Post Date: 2016-03-10 22:21:13 by Tooconservative
Keywords: None
Views: 6439
Comments: 32
Of the “not Trumps” still standing, Senator Cruz is closer to what I’d like to see on policy. Senator Marco Rubio is closer to what I’d like to see in terms of politicking and the all-important engendering of a personal relationship with voters, which I’ve already supposed was more important to Ronald Reagan’s success than his conservatism. It’s time to face facts though, and with his grand tally of zero delegates won on March 8th, realize that Rubio is probably finished. It’s an open question if Rubio can pull out a Florida miracle in less than a week, and the consequences of him not winning are of the same magnitude of the futility of his way forward if he does win. Look at it this way: we have both Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker and former Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal – both more loved by “our side” than say, Chris Christie – politically intact for the future because they left the race before getting demolished at the ballot box. The conservative/conservatarian/liberaservative/libertarian movement needs a politically intact Marco Rubio for the future. He’d likely be irreparably damaged by a Florida loss, and I don’t think today’s electorate is going to repeat the Nixonian equation of getting trounced for a major office (California Governor, 1962) and then coming back for a major win (Presidency, 1968) anytime soon (See: Rick Perry, 2012 and 2016 Presidential campaigns). “But what about Kasich!?,” I’m sure someone out there is crying. Well, what goes for Rubio goes for him. He could win Ohio next Tuesday, but what would that actually accomplish? He just finished third in a northern rust belt state he had staked not quite as much as his home state on, but close. There’s a place for Kasich in a hopeful Republican administration that will begin on January 20, 2017, but it isn’t in the Oval Office. Which brings us back to Ted Cruz. I almost wrote, “leaves us with,” but that’d be inaccurate as it’s hardly a settling position. He’s got Reagan conservatism down pat – and that isn’t the problem. Ted Cruz just isn’t likeable except to people inclined to agree with him in the first place, but I think he can fix it. He might even be able to fix it quickly enough to game-change both Florida, Ohio, and other Super Tuesday II states. Here’s three ways how. Reinvent his stump speech. I tweeted during last week’s debate Thursday night that for the first time in a long while, Cruz opened his mouth and didn’t make me like him less. He then followed up one of his best debate performances with his address to CPAC on Friday…which was the mostly same Ted Cruz speech we’ve heard every time he gives one. It’s great material for firing up conservatives. Cruz doesn’t need to fire up conservatives. One of the most common complaints I hear of Cruz’s delivery is that he comes across like a Baptist preacher. I’m a little more charitable and say Cruz always thinks he’s delivering a closing argument to a jury, rather than speaking to an electorate. He needs to inspire and attract persuadable Republican voters currently leaning towards or in other candidates’ camps. As important, he needs to start inspiring and attracting voters in whole, looking forward to the general election in November. Pitching fear and reactionary solutions in response has been cornered by Donald Trump. Take a page from Marco Rubio and be visionary first, adversarial a distant second. Make peace with the “establishment”. This will be the hardest thing for Cruz to do, but he has to if he expects to win the nomination and the Presidency. It can be done without surrendering principles too. When Senator Lindsey Graham – if he isn’t in tune with the “establishment” no one is – suggested last week that it might be time for the party to rally around Cruz to stop Trump, that was an invitation to Cruz not a plea to the establishment. There’s one simple event that Cruz could construct that will fit this bill: apologize publicly to Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky. Cruz, if you remember, called McConnell a liar on the floor of the Senate back last July, scoring points with RINO-hating conservatives none of whom happen to serve in the Congress. Ideally, he’d have done this before the Kentucky caucus last Saturday (where he came in second, 4.3% behind Trump) but it could still have a positive impact. I’d do it as a joint appearance with both McConnell and junior Kentucky Senator Rand Paul if they’re willing. Neither of them has a current candidate endorsement. Rand Paul was very smart to keep McConnell in his corner, supporting the majority leader for reelection in 2014, and receiving his endorsement for President. It’s almost certain McConnell will back Paul for reelection to the Senate in November. Rand Paul knew he’d ultimately need the “establishment” more than they’d need him, and he’s better for it. Cruz could make it clear that he’s not seeking either man’s endorsement at the presser, if that’s what’s needed to get them to show. Leave it as “I’m sorry,” the media will cover it, and Cruz will gain points with the hated establishment and also show a quality to voters that doesn’t come naturally to him: humility. Wake up to a “big tent” strategy. As mentioned above, Cruz’s campaign was centered on winning southern, evangelical conservatives in a near-exclusionary fashion. It failed. If there’s one lasting lesson to this election cycle, it’s that evangelicals don’t vote as a cohesive bloc; they’ve been going for twice-divorced, irreverent in his delivery Trump more than Cruz. Part of this goes back to the first point on his campaign rhetoric – be less preachy and conservatives-focused – but it also speaks to seizing opportunities when they’re handed to you on a silver platter. Last month, Cruz and his campaign pulled a campaign ad solely because one of the actors in it, Amy Lindsay, has been in “Skinemax” films. It was a clear pander to social/moral conservatives/statists (“Progressives for Jesus”, as described in Meredith Ancret Walker’s new book), and gained Cruz nothing while solidifying him as a cultural prude. Actually, it lost Cruz something, because Ms. Lindsay has now come out in support of Trump, when she had earlier said she could support Cruz. There’s an opportunity now sitting here for the taking that will scream inclusivity, not be seen as pandering, and will make progressive heads explode: get Caitlyn Jenner on the campaign trail and do joint appearances. The left’s heads are already detonating after her not-quite-endorsement of Cruz. Play it up. What’s Jenner’s hesitancy on fully backing Cruz? Evangelical Christianity – you know, that supposed voting bloc that has failed Cruz thus far. There’s more to be gained with people not inclined to join the “Cruz Crew” than will be lost by those who will be fauxtraged. And guess who, more than any part of the electorate, will stand up and take notice? Millennials. Win them. Super Tuesday II on March 15th will probably cast the die for who the Republican nominee will be, come July’s convention in Cleveland. Ted Cruz, by the results so far, is the only candidate with a mathematical path to beating Trump outright. The opportunity to broaden his appeal is sitting in his hands. It remains to be seen if he grasps it. Allan Bourdius is a co-founder of Vigilant Liberty Radio and the founder and editor of Their Finest Hour and host of the VLR program of the same name. Follow him on Twitter as @allanbourdius. There’s one huge takeaway from Tuesday’s primaries results: Ted Cruz overperformed in a state where conventional wisdom says he shouldn’t have had a chance, namely Michigan. His overperformance – edging out John Kasich for second place, in a state where Kasich should naturally be stronger – is way more significant looking forward than his once-again second place finish in Mississippi, which is another of those southern states that Cruz’s campaign based their dubious “evangelicals who don’t vote because no one is conservative enough” strategy upon.
Poster Comment:
A guest writer at HotGas, outlining quick fixes to help Cruz drive up his chances.
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Cruz can't win.
If all of the other Republican candidates, together, dropped out and threw their support behind Cruz, Cruz would then have a chance of winning the Republican nomination, but Trump would probably still win it.
But then what? Then Cruz goes on to lose to Hillary.
The nomination fight is just the first round on the way to the big game in November. Trump can beat Clinton. With Cruz, there is no way at all.
#2. To: Vicomte13 (#1)
If Cruz managed to win, it would be the kiss of death for this nation. If Hillary won, it would also be the kiss of death for this nation. Both of these two characters are subversive destructive counterculturalists who have led charmed lives protected by the media.
#3. To: Vicomte13, TooConservative (#1)
Cruz can't win.If all of the other Republican candidates, together, dropped out and threw their support behind Cruz, Cruz would then have a chance of winning the Republican nomination, but Trump would probably still win it.
Cruz can't win. Theoretically, a miracle could occur, but I very much doubt the GOPe will withdraw its candidates until it makes certain Cruz cannot win. Then, if they so choose, it would be safe to clear the field and throw everything at Trump to create a deadlocked convention resulting in a compromise candidate being nominated. That is a very unlikely scenario. Tonight's debate was so civil, it practically signaled a surrender.
#4. To: TooConservative (#0)
Cruz can go on to Canada. Trump 2016!
#5. To: nolu chan (#3)
When I say "Cruz can't win", I mean that Cruz will never be elected President. He's creepy. And he's wrong about a great number of things. If the GOP brings down Trump, they will get Hillary. There is no other possible outcome.
#6. To: TooConservative (#0)
The conservative/conservatarian/liberaservative/libertarian movement needs a politically intact Marco Rubio for the future.
That is a good one. No Rubio needs to just go away and never come back.
#7. To: Vicomte13 (#1)
Cruz can't win.If all of the other Republican candidates, together, dropped out and threw their support behind Cruz, Cruz would then have a chance of winning the Republican nomination, but Trump would probably still win it.
But then what? Then Cruz goes on to lose to Hillary.
The nomination fight is just the first round on the way to the big game in November. Trump can beat Clinton. With Cruz, there is no way at all.
Vic anyone can beat Hillary. Take that to the bank.
#8. To: nolu chan (#3)
Tonight's debate was so civil
That I fell asleep.
#9. To: rlk (#2)
Both of these two characters are subversive destructive counterculturalists
That is not true.
I will tell you what is counter culture. Atheism. A philosophy for losers.
#10. To: Vicomte13 (#1) (Edited)
If all of the other Republican candidates
Who should not be confused with (D-)onald (D-)rumpf.
"The government's gonna pay for it" -- (D-)onald (D-)rumpf
[The Trump Tapes: Vol. 1]
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rcUCLwWCihE
(D-)
"BBB Explains D- Minus Grade for Trump University"
http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/bbb-explains- minus-grade-trump- university/story?id=37491525
Asshole, Lying; 1 each:
https://www.google.com/search?q=Trump+A+minus+BBB
#11. To: A K A Stone (#9)
I will tell you what is counter culture. Atheism. A philosophy for losers.
Yep. It wasn't the Tryanny of the populist Majority who gave us life and liberty...
#12. To: VxH (#10)
Yes, the government IS going to pay for a great number of things.
The govenrment's going to pay for Defense, Education, Social Security, and subsidized medical care. That is true. It's going to remain true until the end of time.
The question is merely "how much", not "whether".
#13. To: A K A Stone (#7)
Vic anyone can beat Hillary. Take that to the bank.
I don't know about that. But we'll never get to test the doubt, because Trump will be the nominee, and Trump will beat Hillary like an old leather bag.
I think it will be Trump/Kasich.
Here's why.
(1) Trump has said that he's going to be looking for somebody who "knows how Washnington works" and who can "get stuff done", because he's an outsider.
Kasich has the best record of getting legislation through Congress of anybody in the Republican Party. So Kasich fits the bill perfectly.
(2) Trump has said that he's very impressed with some of the people he's debated. Kasich has been up there.
(3) Kasich is the popular governor of a Midwestern "Must win" state, and he was second in Michigan. With Kasich on the ticket, Trump is likely to take Ohio, and Michigan becomes more achievable.
(4) Kasich has been respectful of Trump. Rubio really insulted Trump. Cruz ridiculed Trump. Kasich didn't. Kasich has the experience AND he hasn't acted like a jackass in public with regards to Trump. It will be very hard to really believe that Rubio or Cruz respect Trump because of what they have said, but with Kasich, it is believable.
(5) Kasich's departure from orthodoxy was on behalf of his people, like Christie's was. Kasich decided not to deprive poor Ohioans of Medicaid, and Christie sought maximal aid from the Obama Adminisitraton after Hurricane Sandy. Other Republicans screamed, but these governors did what was best for their people. By contrast, Rubio ran out there and sought amnesty, which isn't best for the people, and he defended Islam - not just Muslim people. Cruz is an Israel firster who screeched at Orthodox CHRISTIAN Arabs for not backing Israel.
It'll be Trump/Kasich, and they'll beat Hillary.
Will they have coattails? That depends on whether or not the Republican Congressional politicians continue to behave like jackasses towards Trump or not.
Trump is bringing in waves of people to the GOP who are there to vote FOR HIM. If they hear Republicans attacking him, they are not likely to give the Republicans their vote, just Trump.
Obviously it will be easier for Trump to get his agenda done if he has a Republican Congress.
He'll need a Republican Senate to pack the courts.
#14. To: Vicomte13 (#13)
I think it will be Trump/Kasich.Here's why.
You may be right. At the beginning of the campaign I had a much lesser opinion of Kasich.
I used to really like him. Then he voted for the Brady Bill.
I've pretty much dismissed him since then.
When he ran for Governor originally I didn't even vote for him.
I can't remember if I did the second time. I was going back and forth.
#15. To: Vicomte13 (#12) (Edited)
The govenrment's going to pay for Defense, Education, Social Security, and subsidized medical care. That is true.
Where's the "govenrment[SIC]" get those $ from, Comrade SelfWorshipfulness?
Planning on pulling the Reductions of Paraguay 2.0 out yer Jesuit Marxist arse are ya?
#16. To: A K A Stone (#9)
Both of these two characters are subversive destructive counterculturalistsThat is not true.
That is not true.
Because you say it isn't?
#17. To: VxH (#15)
Where's the "govenrment[SIC]" get those $ from, Comrade SelfWorshipfulness?
Taxes, obviously.
Comrade? I'm a Catholic, not a Communist.
SelfWorshipfulness? I think well of myself in general, though realistically - I have my sins and weaknesses. I do not worship myself or anything close to it. In fact, I make jokes at my own expense all the time.
You just hate me because I think differently from you, so you hiss and screech and spout stupidity.
Fortunately for me, my guy is going to win this election, and seems very likely to do the sorts of things I want to see done in the next 8 eight years.
So, I'm ok with me, and I'll be ok with my government and my President for the first time since...well...since ever, really.
I'm looking forward to a happy period, a Golden Age as it were. You've got nothing to look forward to but the victory of somebody you despise. And then you have to worry about how people like me are really happy about the result.
Sucks to be you.
#18. To: VxH (#10)
Better Business Bureau rated Trump University "A" in 2011
as claimed by Donald Trump.
DescriptionOn May 2011, the firm informed the BBB that it has officialy changed its name from Trump University LLC, effective May 21, 2010. According to information provided by this firm, Trump Entrepreneur Initiative is a for-profit company which sells products, classes, memberships, seminars and workshops and provides educational materials and support for entrepreneurs. This firm does not grant academic degrees or certification.
[...]
Customer Complaints Summary
1 complaint closed with BBB in last 3 years | closed in last 12 months
Better Business Bureau: Trump Right on 'A' Rating — Mostlyby Alex Johnson
Feb 28, 2016, 7:18 pm ETRepublican presidential candidate Donald Trump's claim Sunday that his self-named university got a "A rating" from the Better Business Bureau is true — but that's only half the story.
In an interview on NBC's "Meet the Press," Trump defended Trump University, which largely shut down in 2011 and is the subject of multiple lawsuits alleging false marketing for what was essentially an entrepreneurship seminar, not a college.
The course got a "98 percent approval rating and high marks" from participants, Trump said on "Meet the Press," adding: "We have an A from the Better Business Bureau."
Trump repeated the BBB claim twice more in the same response.
The BBB said a statement to NBC News on Sunday that Trump University currently has no rating because "the company is believed to be out of business."
But when it was assessed by BBB Serving Metro New York, the Trump Entrepreneur Initiative — the name under which Trump University has most recently operated — had, indeed, gotten the BBB's top rating in the past, it said.
In fact, according to the rating agency, Trump appears to have undersold things — at times in the past, his "university" had an A-plus rating.
But it's not all good news for the Republican front-runner. The BBB's ratings are "dynamic" and are based on a constantly shifting algorithm, meaning they're changing all the time. And over the years, the company's rating had fallen as far as D-minus — an assessment Trump chose not to mention Sunday.
#19. To: TooConservative (#0)
"How Cruz Can Win"
He can change his name to Trump.
#20. To: Vicomte13, VxH (#17)
careful man, VxH is a big crybaby and will bozo you if you make solid points and show him to be a fool
only a pussy hides behind the bozo
#21. To: misterwhite (#19)
"How Cruz Can Win"He can change his name to Trump.
thanks man, i needed the laugh his am.
#22. To: nolu chan (#18) (Edited)
BBB Explains D-Minus Grade for Trump University
"During the period when Trump University appeared to be active in the marketplace, BBB received multiple customer complaints about this business,” the New York area BBB and its national headquarters said in a statement released today. "These complaints affected the Trump University BBB rating, which was as low as D- in 2010," the statement said.
"As the company appeared to be winding down, after 2013, no new complaints were reported. Complaints over three years old automatically rolled off of the Business Review, according to BBB policy. As a result, over time, Trump University’s BBB rating went to an A in July 2014 and then to an A+ in January 2015.”
http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/bbb-explains- minus-grade-trump-university/story?id=37491525
fraudfrôd/noun
FAIL!
#23. To: A K A Stone (#8)
Tonight's debate was so civilThat I fell asleep.
At one moment it seemed all the foreign policy experts on the stage fell asleep. In response to a question about Cuba, Trump opined that he would probably shut down the embassy until a good deal was reached.
Marco Rubio chimed in that the embassy had been a consulate, so it would be unnecessary to shut it down like that. It would just revert to being a consulate.
BASH: But Mr. Trump, just to be clear, there is an embassy that you would have to decide whether it would be open or whether you would close it. Which would it be? In Havana.TRUMP: I would probably have the embassy closed until such time as a really good deal was made and struck by the United States. (APPLAUSE)
RUBIO: All right, first of all, the embassy is the former consulate. It's the same building. So it could just go back to being called a consulate. We don't have to close it that way. Second of all, I don't know where Cuba is going to use, but if they sue us in a court in Miami, they're going to lose.
Nobody corrected Marco. We had a complete break in diplomatic relations with Cuba for about 55 years. There was no U.S. diplomatic facility in Cuba directly prior to the newly opened embassy marking the restoration of diplomatic relations.
There was the Embassy of Switzerland. In the Embassy of Switzerland, there was an office designated the United States Interests Section of the Embassy of Switzerland in Havana, Cuba.
In 1961, the U.S. Embassy was occupied by the Swiss. 55 years ago, it was a U.S. Embassy, not a consulate. The U.S. could not maintain a consulate in Cuba during the 55 years it did not maintain any official diplomatic relations. If it reverted to its previous state, it would be the Swiss embassy.
#24. To: nolu chan (#18)
What does "Complaints over three years old automatically rolled off of the Business Review, according to BBB policy" mean; and what was the rating when (D-)rumpf's "university" was still in bidness?
#25. To: VxH (#24)
Your source says:
"The BBB Business Review for this company has continually been 'No Rating' since September 2015. Prior to that, it fluctuated between D- and A+," the statement said.
Trump's father was Trump. Donald is Trump. Grandpa changed the name about a century ago before dying in 1918.
#26. To: nolu chan (#25)
'No Rating' since September 2015
"As the company appeared to be winding down, after 2013, no new complaints were reported. Complaints over three years old automatically rolled off of the Business Review, according to BBB policy. As a result, over time, Trump University’s BBB rating went to an A in July 2014 and then to an A+ in January 2015.”
http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/bbb-explains- minus-grade-trump-university/story?id=37491525
fraudfrôd/noun
FAIL!
#27. To: nolu chan (#25)
Grandpa changed the name
Did he change the family whore pimping bidness too?
www.google.com/#q=Drumpf+Broth els
#28. To: VxH (#27)
Did he change the family whore pimping bidness too?
Check that with your grandmother.
#29. To: nolu chan (#28)
My grandmother ran a greenhouse, not a chain of whorehouses like the Drumpf klan.
#30. To: Vicomte13 (#5)
When I say "Cruz can't win", I mean that Cruz will never be elected President. He's creepy. And he's wrong about a great number of things. If the GOP brings down Trump, they will get Hillary. There is no other possible outcome.
Ok. I was thinking of the nomination, but I don't think he could win the general if he were gifted with the nomination. The Cruz support does not extend to a broad enough spectrum. He cannot attract the independents and Democrats that Trump can. He may cause a significant number of Republicans to sit it out.
Hillary should not be struggling against Bernie but she is. Clinton fatigue may catch up with her before she can seal the nomination. Her nomination seems likely but not assured, at least not yet.
#31. To: calcon (#20)
careful man, VxH is a big crybaby and will bozo you if you make solid points and show him to be a fool
I'm not trying to make solid points. I've gotten so tired of ad hominem that now, once I start getting it, I stop attempting to be serious and I just play.
#32. To: misterwhite (#19)
" "How Cruz Can Win"He can change his name to Trump. "
Before, or after they remove Glen Becks head from Cruz's ass ?
Si vis pacem, para bellum
Those who beat their swords into plowshares will plow for those who don't
Rebellion to tyrants is obedience to God.
There are no Carthaginian terrorists.
President Obama is the greatest hoax ever perpetrated on the American people. --Clint Eastwood
"I am concerned for the security of our great nation; not so much because of any threat from without, but because of the insidious forces working from within." -- General Douglas MacArthur
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