Originally Posted By ecdc Including his colleagues. <a target="blank" rel="nofollow" href="http://www.vox.com/2014/12/16/7404457/cruz-unpopular">http://www.vox.com/2014/12/16/...npopular</a> After a disastrous effort to force a vote on Obama's immigration plan, Cruz actually apologized to his colleagues. The fact that many Republicans voted against him in protest might've clued him in. Or maybe it was that he helped get Obama's Surgeon General nominee confirmed. >>There were 44 other Republican senators when Cruz first came to Washington," one reporter who covers Capitol Hill tells NRO. "I think it's fair to say over 40 of them do not hold him in high esteem personally.<<
Originally Posted By RoadTrip ^^^ Ted Cruz is great at bringing people together... in their hatred of him. You and I disagree fairly frequently on these boards, but I am 100% with you when it comes to hating Ted Cruz.
Originally Posted By Dabob2 Cruz really is a tool. He was also, without question, born in Canada. So it will be fascinating to see if any of the birthers who insisted that Obama was ineligible to be President in the first place, even if his mother was a US citizen, hold Cruz to the same standard. Not holding my breath on that one.
Originally Posted By Kar2oonMan I bet one person who doesn't hate Ted Cruz is Jeb Bush. I am sure Jeb is quite happy to have an extremist nut bag like Cruz running amok, Bush can look much more appealing than the alternative. Cruz is part of the same plastic action figure set as Bachmann, Palin and various other self-serving know-nothings who go opposite everyone sane just for the sake of it. The make sport of running for president, but really they're building a marketable far right brand. People on the far right are happy to buy endless variations of the same books, lectures and radio shows. That's really what Cruz is after. This time, his antics left a mark and might even have screwed up his own brand.
Originally Posted By ecdc This is amazing: <a target="blank" rel="nofollow" href="http://gawker.com/watch-bob-dole-giggle-over-how-much-he-hates-ted-cruz-1742182248?trending_test_b&utm_expid=66866090-62.YkETBcIMTk2uX1oytHipyg.2">http://gawker.com/watch-bob-do...tHipyg.2</a> Someone asks 92 year old Bob Dole about the Republican candidates. His response, transcribed: "We need someone with experience and there are a lot of good candidates. I like nearly all of them. [Whispers] Except Cruz. [Laughs]."
Originally Posted By Dabob2 Of all those running, Cruz is the one I think I'd least like to see in the White House. Well, maybe Carson, because he would be in so far over his head it wouldn't even be funny. But I'd even take Trump over Cruz, because Trump doesn't himself believe half the crap he spews. But Cruz is a true believer in some really awful stuff. And a complete tool as a human being. I worry that he's set himself up nicely though, if Carson or Trump implode. Trump might actually not do so before Iowa, but Carson certainly could; he doesn't seem to be able to say anything that make his supporters desert him, but you never know what jaw-dropping thing he'll say next. And Cruz is setting himself up to be both immigrant-basher AND evangelical-friendly. So that, even though Trump and Carson supporters seem like two quite distinct groups right now, Cruz is in position to pick up either's supporters if they falter - or, I'm sure he hopes, both sets. Plus, even though he's a senator, he positions himself as an "outsider," which is so beloved this year. Everybody SAYS they hate Washington, but Washington really does hate Cruz, and that's a huge plus with a certain crowd. Rubio is the "it" candidate of the moment (replacing Fiorina), and it looks like the establishment money is moving from Bush to Rubio. But establishment money actually might not be enough this time around, for the first time in memory. And Cruz and Rubio are in a statistical tie right now. Cruz, it seems to me, is happy to play the long game and just hang around, hoping to be the "it" guy just before Iowa - as Santorum was last time after all the other possible alternatives to Romney rose and fell in the Summer and Fall. With Trump and Carson seemingly made of teflon with their supporters, the rise and fall this time is happening among the second tier. If the teflon holds, it's possible Trump or Carson could win Iowa, and/or NH, and then it's the whole new ballgame of "possible" rather than "theoretical." But Cruz is banking one of them stumbles, and positioning himself to pick up the supporters of EITHER one, which no one else seems able to do. Tool that he is, he's a smart guy. And that scares me a little. Of course, if Trump perceives him as an actual threat at any point, there's always the birther card he can pull out of his back pocket. I don't think any of the other candidates would go there, but Trump might. And wouldn't that be popcorn time?
Originally Posted By Kar2oonMan Many on the far right think the GOP loses national elections because they don't nominate someone far enough right. I kind of hope they go with a Cruz or Trump and that they get absolutely pummeled next November in the general election. I think maybe, just maybe, it would be the cold, hard slap needed to get some of the adults in the GOP to start speaking up for a change.
Originally Posted By Dabob2 I've often thought that as well. It would be nice if the adults took control of that party again. I just worry that so many elections are decided on trivialities (1988 being perhaps the best example, thank you Lee Atwater), that if Cruz gets the nom, say, and there's some momentary "OMG!!!!" ginned-up outrage they can pin on Hillary just before the election, that somebody like him could actually get elected. So while part of me kind of hopes they nominate somebody far right, who gets obliterated, part of me fears what could happen, too.
Originally Posted By DDMAN26 Turns out he's a big Star Wars fan. So like Vader there might be some good in him <a target="blank" rel="nofollow" href="http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/ted-cruz-campaign-launches-star-wars-contest-app/story?id=35747424">http://abcnews.go.com/Politics...35747424</a>
Originally Posted By Dabob2 Ahem: "If the teflon holds, it's possible Trump or Carson could win Iowa, and/or NH, and then it's the whole new ballgame of "possible" rather than "theoretical." But Cruz is banking one of them stumbles, and positioning himself to pick up the supporters of EITHER one, which no one else seems able to do. Tool that he is, he's a smart guy. And that scares me a little. Of course, if Trump perceives him as an actual threat at any point, there's always the birther card he can pull out of his back pocket. I don't think any of the other candidates would go there, but Trump might. And wouldn't that be popcorn time?" Hate to say I called it, but...
