Conservatives will have a candidate in 2016.

[RLENT]

I think Ted Cruz will make an excellent candidate amongst religious, social and fiscal conservatives.

... which is essentially saying that Cruz has a decent chance with about 1/3 of the electorate.

The rest of 'em ?

Probably not so much ...

Huckabee lacks the intellectual heft to hold his own with Cruz.

The Huckster is an apostate charlatan ... Cruz emits the same stench.

Which makes both of them a perfect candidate for the religious rubes on the political right who eat that sort of thing up ... hook, line and sinker.

After all, it's not about facts ... but rather faith ...

Rand Paul is an opportunistic weasel not to be trusted by conservatives.

Rough translation:Isn't fanatical enough to go kill the little brown Mooslim people willy-nilly ...

If Ted Cruz can get his message out to the people and avoid media pitfalls, he has a fair shot.

Let the games begin, Wonkette-style:

All Your Excited Reactions To Ted Cruz’s Big Presidential Jesus Announcement
by Doktor Zoom

Ted Cruz is ready to take America down the Jesus Road to national salvation, and some people are more excited about that than others. On the one hand, you have your Tea Party Nation, which declares Cruz "the only electable Republican" because he's very smart and is "not handcuffed with the consultant class" that has kept Real Conservatives from winning the GOP nomination, and hence the presidency. And then there are fans of other candidates, like the Liberty University students in the photo above, who wore their "Stand With Rand" t-shirts for Rand Paul and made a point of sitting in the front row.

David Bossie, the head of Citizens United (sounds familiar for some reason) is pretty chuffed about the announcement, telling Newsmax that Ted Cruz "speaks truth to power." Presumably this means that he lies to the head of NASA about what the space agency’s mission is, promises to "repeal" Common Core, even though it isn't actually a law, and is generally full of ****. (Also, when did the right wing decide to adopt the phrase "speaking truth to power," which we're pretty sure is trademarked by Radical Ethnic Studies professors, and our benevolent Editrix's mom, in the first place?) Fun fact: Of 42 Cruz statements checked by Politifact – and yes, we know Politifact is far from perfect — only one received an unambiguous rating of "true." Truth to power? The guy has trouble speaking truth to anyone.
Over at Dead Breitbart’s Home For Spittle-Flecked Computer Monitors, there was a certain amount of premature rejoiculation:


The comments, which you should never read anywhere but Wonkette (where they aren't allowed), are a strange mix of birther arguments over Cruz's eligibility and favorable comparisons of the Cruz family to those people currently occupying OUR White House. We'll give Senator Cruz this much: the kiddos are cute, even the one who was such a Jerk Baby a few years back.

Not all the students in the Liberty University crowd were delighted with the event, because apparently even Born Again Christian college students like griping on social media, bless their hearts. A few choice comments from the anonymous Yik Yak app (what? Liberty students not revealing their identity while using their phones at a mandatory event?):In addition to students, there were some other, more high-profile grumbles about Cruz's candidacy. Rep. Peter "I'm the less crazy one who doesn't talk about cantaloupes" King said he didn’t think Cruz is an especially credible candidate:

"Shutting down the federal government and reading Dr. Seuss on the Senate floor are the marks of a carnival barker not the leader of the free world," King said in a written statement on Monday.​

Now that’s just not fair — we've never seen a carnival barker do either of those things, and we think Rep. King owes an apology, and possibly a hit of meth, to decent honest carnies everywhere.

White House Press Secretary Josh Earnest had the best comment so far about Cruz's promise to repeal every single word of Obamacare:

"There was a presidential candidate who ran in 2012
promising to repeal the Affordable Care Act, and that campaign pledge didn’t work out very well for him."​

Why, yes, we heard that one go "zing."

And Gawker noted that website URLs aren't the only difficulties Cruz is having with his campaign rollout.

(Hilarity continues at link below)

All Your Excited Reactions To Ted Cruz's Big Presidential Jesus Announcement | Wonkette

This one below is even mo' better:

Ted Cruz Kicks Off Presidential Campaign, Wonkette Staffers Crying Through Orgasms | Wonkette

 

[cheri1122]

I find it highly amusing that those who heartily endorse Elizabeth Warren as a viable and inspiring possible candidate for POTUS ridicule Ted Cruz, disregarding the fact that Warren is farther left on the political spectrum than Cruz is on the right. The problem with Cruz is that he's a first-term senator, and IMHO we don't need another first-term senator in the White House. The good thing about Cruz is that he's smarter than any Democrat candidate mentioned so far, and is absolutely fearless in delivering the conservative message. For doing that he's already being demonized and painted with the usual labels as "radical" and "wacko" along with ridiculed for being a Christian. Comparing his credentials with those of Warren or then-Senator Obama, he's head and shoulders above both of them and would shred either of them or Hillary in any debate that might take place. Saying he has no chance at this juncture is a bit premature.

But Elizabeth Warren isn't known for an effort to shut the entire government down because she didn't like one policy. Cruz was "ridiculed" long before he announced his candidacy, not because of it, as you posit.
Cruz is fearless at delivering the conservative message: lower taxes on the wealthy, [corporations and individuals], cut benefits for those who need help, spend more on defense, reduce regulations. The problem is that most people have seen this scenario play out in various states and ways for long enough to see that it isn't helping - except for the already powerful corporations, and already wealthy people. The biggest threat facing the US isn't deficit spending, or terrorism, it's destruction of the middle class and the upward mobility [generally through education] that creates and sustains it. Without a healthy middle class, we are doomed, period.
Republican policies not only offer nothing to reverse the course of inequality we have been on for decades, they make it even worse. And the hypocrisy of demanding spending cuts [on top of many years of such cuts already imposed] except for Defense is just mind boggling. The American people don't want another war - we've had enough of spending to rebuild the country we just bombed into the stone age, while our own veterans [those who survive] are unable to obtain decent jobs or medical treatment when they return. We've had enough of the military 'giving' excess equipment to law enforcement departments, so they can use it to intimidate people who exercise their right to protest injustice.
Obama was elected precisely because the majority of people wanted to believe there was hope that the downward spiral represented by the fact that the rich are getting richer and the rest of us are getting screwed would change. Obviously, that hasn't happened, but it remains our number one priority. We just want to have jobs that allow us to be self sufficient and save money for buying a house, putting our kids through college [or a good vocational school], and focus on raising our families and being good neighbors, friends, and citizens - not worry about being laid off/outsourced/unemployed, or sending our sons & daughters off to the Middle East to fight in yet another misguided war. The latter is a fear we've lived with forever, but the former is relatively recent: unemployment. It's tearing this country apart, and the Republicans & conservatives have their hands on the fabric, anxious to show off their strength.

 

[RLENT]

If Ted Cruz can get his message out to the people and avoid media pitfalls, he has a fair shot.

One of the biggest liabilities Cruz has, is the particular people that will support him ... and what they will say in their own words.

Expect the media to be all over that ...

While I expect it to be great entertainment, I don't expect it will play all that well in middle America ...

 

[aristotle]

We'll see how well Cruz handles himself in coming months. Should he stumble, conservatives have a strong bench including Bobby Jindal and Rick Perry. My hope is an actual conservative gets the nomination rather than a moderate. I forgot to mention that conservatives must also defeat the Republican Establishment, perhaps the biggest hurdle of all.

 

[cheri1122]

No matter how well Cruz "handles himself" in the coming months, he's already got his message out, and a large number of citizens [some are even Republicans too] don't agree with it. Blaming "the media" is just shooting the messenger when you don't like the message.

 

[aristotle]

No matter how well Cruz "handles himself" in the coming months, he's already got his message out, and a large number of citizens [some are even Republicans too] don't agree with it. Blaming "the media" is just shooting the messenger when you don't like the message.

When it comes to national politics in this country, the media is unabashedly agenda-driven. No matter who is nominated, CNN and MSNBC plus ABC,CBS and NBC will give favorable coverage to the Democrat. Their record of support is without blemish.

 

[RLENT]

Blaming the media for the lack of appeal of one's ideology - and those who represent it - is certainly convenient ...

... lol ...

 

[witness23]

Blaming the media for the lack of appeal of one's ideology - and those who represent it - is certainly convenient ...

... lol ...

Always the victim. That friggen' schtick is getting really, really old, especially coming from the party of "accountability".

 

[Pilgrim]

The biggest threat facing the US isn't deficit spending, or terrorism, it's destruction of the middle class and the upward mobility [generally through education] that creates and sustains it. Without a healthy middle class, we are doomed, period.

Agreed. However all these problems are inter-related; with the staggering increase of deficit spending, increasing the national debt and smothering private industry with excessive taxes and govt regulations there can be no significant private sector growth which creates better-paying, full time jobs for the middle class. Obama's economic policies have put all these conditions in place and the result has been the decline of the standard of living of middle class Americans. Since Obama took office the median income of middle class Americans has shrunk by over $5K. The only jobs that have developed during his occupation have been the part time "hamburger flippers" that the Democrats used to loudly ridicule. The Labor Participation Rate is the highest it's been since the 1970s.

Republican policies not only offer nothing to reverse the course of inequality we have been on for decades, they make it even worse. And the hypocrisy of demanding spending cuts [on top of many years of such cuts already imposed] except for Defense is just mind boggling.

Other than the Sequester that was forced upon the govt there have been no spending cuts - only a few reductions in spending increases. That's why the national debt now exceeds the GDP. Interest rates have been held artificially low by the FED - CDs yield about 1% - leaving retirees and those who depend interest bearing investments with less disposable income seeing their net worth shrink as it's consumed by inflation. When interest rates finally return to normal levels the payments on the national debt will consume us. Those of us who remember the Carter years and his "Misery Index" know what to expect.

Regarding terrorism: anyone who thinks this isn't a problem is extremely naive because it's not going away. Those who believe the Obama fairy tales that are supposed to convince us that we can control or work with the Iranians, ISIS and all the other muslim barbarians that are dedicated to ending Western Civilization are kidding themselves. The problem is that these enemies aren't buying the Obama program, and Iraq is a good example. Obama declared the war there over - but the terrorists didn't go along with it. When we get attacked again, we'll have war whether we want it or not - and it will cause BIG problems in all the areas discussed above.

 

[cheri1122]

"Obama's economic policies have put all these conditions in place" - say what?! The increased deficit spending began with Bush: defense and wars. Ditto the tax cuts for the wealthy [corporations and people], with the promise that they would result in increased investment in jobs, because private industries would reinvest their windfall, and individuals would invest more in entrepreneurs & small businesses. Except it didn't happen - the beneficiaries of the largesse pocketed the gains, or stashed them offshore. Or maybe invested in more top drawer talent to find additional ways to avoid paying the taxes they hadn't escaped already - what they didn't do is create more jobs, and only an idiot believed they would in the first place. Because the only reason to create jobs is increased demand for your product or service. And the only way to increase demand is to put more money in the hands of those who will spend it pretty quickly: the working class. The wealthy won't spend it, they have neither need nor reason to do so. Even if they invest it, it won't be in a way that helps the working/middle class, because they get a better ROI elsewhere, and that's all that matters.
Private industry has been taxed at far higher rates in the past, and prospered - only the culture has changed over the decades, leading to the income inequality that is like an iceberg, lying in wait for the Titanic. It's no longer politically correct to consider the people who do the work as worthy of investing in, nor does patriotism require a sharing of [financial] blessings - a flag pin, and "Thanks for your service" on Facebook is enough for most.
The BS about "no spending cuts" is directly contradicted by the near constant news items about budget constraints, and the required reduction of various state & city services, contributions, and obligations. Nearly every story lists a reduction in federal funds as part, if not the whole, reason. Except defense and oh yes: doctors. Any proposed cuts in the rates paid for Medicare/Medicaid get withdrawn, because the doctors just refuse to treat people in those programs, and the money gets 'found' to avoid impacting their income stream.
More tax cuts for the wealthy and benefit cuts for the poor, aged, and disabled, plus cuts in education funds are exactly the last thing we need to turn the economy around. And BTW: the disdain for the working class is going to bite the Republicans, one of these days.
No one thinks terrorism "isn't a problem" - but it's a problem like psychopathic killers: it takes wisdom and good judgement to respond effectively, without making it worse. Publicity just encourages more of the same, because they like the powerful feeling of inspiring fear. The higher the flames of hysteria, the more they like causing it. Knowing the US has increased defense spending [at the expense of other important things, like infrastructure and education] is undoubtedly reason for the terrorists to celebrate their victory, without losing a single fighter, no less.

Well played, idiot Republicans.​

 

[Pilgrim]

"Obama's economic policies have put all these conditions in place" - say what?! The increased deficit spending began with Bush: defense and wars. Ditto the tax cuts for the wealthy [corporations and people], with the promise that they would result in increased investment in jobs, because private industries would reinvest their windfall, and individuals would invest more in entrepreneurs & small businesses. Except it didn't happen - the beneficiaries of the largesse pocketed the gains, or stashed them offshore. Or maybe invested in more top drawer talent to find additional ways to avoid paying the taxes they hadn't escaped already - what they didn't do is create more jobs, and only an idiot believed they would in the first place.

Nice job of parroting the liberal talking points - all of which are wrong. What liberals always conveniently fail to mention is that Obama extended the Bush tax cuts for two years to continue economic stimulation. This happened because the Bush tax cuts actually benefited the middle class more so than the "rich", and in spite of the adverse economic impact of the terrorist attacks of 9/11/2001 this tax relief created 8 million jobs and economic expansion that lasted 52 months culminating in an unemployment rate of 4.4% before the subprime housing bubble burst, sending the economy into deep recession.

http://www.forbes.com/sites/peterferrara/2012/12/06/why-america-is-going-to-miss-the-bush-tax-cuts/

The BS about "no spending cuts" is directly contradicted by the near constant news items about budget constraints, and the required reduction of various state & city services, contributions, and obligations. Nearly every story lists a reduction in federal funds as part, if not the whole, reason. Except defense and oh yes: doctors. Any proposed cuts in the rates paid for Medicare/Medicaid get withdrawn, because the doctors just refuse to treat people in those programs, and the money gets 'found' to avoid impacting their income stream.
More tax cuts for the wealthy and benefit cuts for the poor, aged, and disabled, plus cuts in education funds are exactly the last thing we need to turn the economy around. And BTW: the disdain for the working class is going to bite the Republicans, one of these days....

Well played, idiot Republicans.​

Facts about govt spending reveal there are very little if any "budget constraints", just politicians complaining about not being able to take as much money as they would like from the pockets of US citizens. Spending - especially entitlement spending - has risen exponentially under Obama to the point that the national debt now exceeds GDP.

https://research.stlouisfed.org/fred2/series/GFDEGDQ188S

Of course the fiscal mess that is ObamaCare will be worse than anyone wants to admit, and just like Medicare the cost will be many times higher than its original OMB estimates. This and other mandatory entitlement spending that has grown under Obama and the Democrats is a financial disaster waiting to happen, and in spite of the actual numbers there are idiots that are still trying to blame Bush and the Republicans after six years of an Obama presidency.

http://www.heritage.org/research/reports/2014/12/federal-spending-by-the-numbers-2014

 

[asjssl]

...............

 

[aristotle]

Ted Cruz favors an orderly immigration policy plus real border security. His views are completely in line with mainstream conservatives on these issues. Is an adherence to law and order obsolete?

 

[davekc]

I think if one is honest and really looks at the current problems, both parties are to blame. I would hardly call it a problem of only Republican makings. Obama had full control for two years with a Democrat Congress and accomplished nothing but run up the debt. Of course Bush drug us into a war but most Democrats voted for it as well.
Now what we have is one party composed of both democrats and republicans. Money rules both parties. "Big oil" and banks runs the Republicans and green technology, unions and Hollywood rule the Democrats.

 

[BobWolf]

The republican wanabee conservatives need to eliminate the most likely to win contenders now so they can throw another election later.
If Ted Cruz has any chance at all of winning an election he will jump ship now, let the right wing rats drown, and go independent. Ted, a lifeboat is still within reach.

SWIM TED, SWIM!!!!!!!!!!!

Bob Wolf.

 

[aristotle]

There is no viable independent movement in American politics. Ted Cruz has to work within the existing two party system. That's reality. If there was a bonafide conservative party to which one could flee, Ted Cruz along with millions of voters would go there.

Leaving the GOP out of frustration makes as much sense as frustrated Americans threatening to leave the US as a matter of principle. Yeah, where you gonna go?

 

[BobWolf]

True I just remembered, the independents prefer the tin foil hat wearing crazy uncle types.

Hopefully the republicans don't but will most likely throw him under the bus and pick Mr. Milktoast Romney

 

[aristotle]

There is a constant struggle within the GOP between conservatives and the GOP Establishment. Unfortunately, the Establishment is, well...firmly established. Occasionally, a conservative outflanks the Establishment and gets the presidential nomination. Last time that happened was Ronald Reagan, more than 30 years ago.

Ted Cruz is unquestionably conservative. Marco Rubio is conservative on almost all issues. Rand Paul is like a mirage hovering over quicksand.

 

[davekc]

But any of them are better than Hillary. lol

 

[cheri1122]

I think if one is honest and really looks at the current problems, both parties are to blame. I would hardly call it a problem of only Republican makings. Obama had full control for two years with a Democrat Congress and accomplished nothing but run up the debt. Of course Bush drug us into a war but most Democrats voted for it as well.
Now what we have is one party composed of both democrats and republicans. Money rules both parties. "Big oil" and banks runs the Republicans and green technology, unions and Hollywood rule the Democrats.

If Obama had known that those 2 years were the only chance he had of getting anything passed, before the incoming wave of Tea Partiers [featuring Ted Cruz] established the practice of rejecting anything & everything Obama proposed, and refusing to negotiate, he probably would have tried harder. You can hardly blame him for not anticipating the unprecedented behavior of the opposition.
Democrats voted for a war they were misled into supporting, BTW. You know: "Bush lied, people died"? Maybe Bush was misled as well, but it was his screwup that got us into war, twice. We're still paying for that, and for rebuilding Iraq.
I agree that big money has corrupted both parties, but seriously, you think either "green technology" or the unions have even 1/100th the power of banks & the oil industry? Hollywood? Really?!
Democrats are prone to corruption, true, but Republicans are prone to hypocrisy, and that's much worse, IMO, because they won't - no, can't admit it, even when it's proven. And just for giggles, exactly how many anti hypocrisy laws are there?