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Tuesday, April 19. 2016

Give him a listen

Maybe Ted Cruz is more appealing than I thought. He is not warm and cuddly. He is incisive. Not a lightweight. Maybe he deserves more attention than just as a placeholder. (h/t Schneiderman)





Posted by Bird Dog at 15:02 | Comments (29) | Trackbacks (0)

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Ted's the man!

We're not electing someone to be everyone's buddy. We're electing someone who has the guts and integrity to make the right calls even if they are the tough ones. Ted's proved that he can do that. It wasn't easy for him to refuse to play the "go along to get along" game in the Senate. When Mitch McConnell LIED to the conservatives, Ted had the integrity and fortitude to call him out even though it's cost him politically.

Trump and Clinton don't understand this. They have based their careers on their willingness lie and cheat. Neither has a moral compass that can steer them when tough decisions need to be made. neither is willing to sacrifice self for the good of the nation.

Trump claims that he knows how to make deals and get things done. His embarrassing miscues regarding the election rules have shown that he doesn't do his homework. He shoots from the hip. Worse, his lack of understanding of economics and of the Constitution is dangerous. Not only is he unprepared to be president, his personality and general ignorance of economics, etc. make it extremely unlikely that he will select, much less listen to, advisors who can make up for his deficiencies.

Cruz is a true conservative who not inly understands what needs to be done and why, but has the guts and integrity to withstand the heat while doing so.
#1 Mike M on 2016-04-19 15:41 (Reply)
Likeable, electable?

Well, can't call Hillary likeable either.
#1.1 Bird Dog on 2016-04-19 15:57 (Reply)
I think you answered your own conundrum. Cruz certainly has rubbed some people the wrong way and he's not the most charismatic person on the planet. BUT, when he's compared to HRC, he probably wins in terms of likable.

In response to the VAT tax, I don't agree with it either - for many reasons. A Vat would have perhaps been acceptable instead of an income tax. However, history tells us that once govt introduces any new tax, the rates will gradually go up.

Also, a VAT screws people who have worked 40 plus years and have already paid a significant portion of their income to the government leaving them with a fixed balance for retirement. A VAT immediately reduces the value of those savings by the amount of the VAT.

What we need - and Cruz states this - is not more taxes, but less government spending (specifically, less spending on entitlement programs).

Which brings us back to the likable/electable issue. Are there enough moochers out there to vote in a lying, cheating, unethical, immoral, traitor like HRC simply because the like the idea that she will take more stuff from the makers so that she can give more stuff to the takers (i.e. will she advance Obama's Marxist regime)?
#1.1.1 Mike M on 2016-04-19 18:13 (Reply)
We need to keep those Social Security checks coming. I paid into that program for 49 years and do depend upon that now.
#1.1.1.1 ron snyder on 2016-04-20 10:30 (Reply)
Cruz has been my choice since Paul dropped out. I do not like his VAT tax proposal but generally agree with him otherwise.

He actually believes in the Constitution which is refreshing.
#2 NJSoldier on 2016-04-19 16:00 (Reply)
Anyone who wants a VAT tax is not for the constitution or limited government, government will only get even bigger and more intrusive.
#2.1 grant1863 on 2016-04-19 17:50 (Reply)
Hold on there, Sport. You need to brush up on your history. The VAT is essentially an excise tax, albeit a very broad one. Before we had an income tax - which necessitated amending the Constitution - the federal govt relied on excise taxes, something that was okay with the gents who wrote the Constitution.

It should be intuitive that the govt has to get money from somewhere for its Constitutionally mandated and allowable duties. Printing more is another term for inflation. So, they're left with taxation. The question then becomes what to tax. The bigger issue is spending or, more specifically, not spending money on things not specified in the Constitution.
#2.1.1 Mike M on 2016-04-19 18:21 (Reply)
Cruz is a snake.

His "true, principled conservative Christian" schtick is a paper-thin facade.

He is just the latest GOP Establishment tool being used to stop Trump.

For me, worst of all is that he is perfectly fine with weakening/eliminating America's sovereignty (in other words, a globalist).

No thanks.
#3 kauf buch on 2016-04-19 16:08 (Reply)
I used to like Ted Cruz also. The lies in Iowa about Carson dropping out bothered me. Then I saw more of the same stuff happening. More lies, more deceit. The latest is the supposed 'ground game' he has going on in the state delegate selection process. I don't care about 'rules' when someone is circumventing what the VOTERS wanted in their state. It is not just Colorado and Wyoming where this delegate hijinks is going on. Similar shenanigans in Louisiana, Georgia, and now Missouri.

If Cruz is so great and so fantastic and has this incredible team of people, then he shouldn't need to strong arm his delegates onto the slate. Especially in states where he did not do well. Voters did not want him, but he is forcing his delegates to be the 'winners' of these supposed 'grassroots' efforts.

After reading up on this aspect of his campaign, and the fact that Carson went out of his way to support Trump over Cruz or Kasich, tells me that there is something dirty going on behind the scenes that did not sit with with Dr. Carson. He spoke out a couple of months ago that 'people' were offering him money and even other positions to get out of the race.

Methinks it was the GOP or the Cruz team. And since Cruz screwed him in Iowa, I think Dr. Carson could in no way support such a slimy character.

Sorry, I don't care how smart he is, he is not trustworthy.
#3.1 MissT on 2016-04-19 16:43 (Reply)
Politics aint beanbag.
#3.1.1 bd on 2016-04-19 17:14 (Reply)
So you are totally fine with delegates being bribed? With other delegates being shut out by flooding the slate with dozens and dozens of candidates (like what happened in CO)?

I am totally with you that politics and elections are not easy things, but they also should not appear to be corrupt games either. Our primary selection process has been revealed for what it is this election cycle, and it makes me feel like I live in a banana republic. That should not be something anyone defends.

The way the GOP and the DNC have gotten away with the byzantine rules for so long is due to the hidden nature and complexity of the rules. In 1992, how would any average voter be able to read each state's rules and understand them? Voters were in the dark for decades about how this is manipulated. Why even bother having a primary vote, if the vote doesn't really even count? What a sham.
#3.1.1.1 MissT on 2016-04-19 18:22 (Reply)
I don't care about 'rules'...

Spoken like a true Trumpette.


....and you think Trump is trustworthy?!?!?
#3.1.2 Mike M on 2016-04-19 18:24 (Reply)
He'll never make it. He's way too smart--cum laude from Princeton, Magna cum Laude from Harvard law.
#4 mary on 2016-04-19 16:14 (Reply)
Never! He is part of the problem.
#5 Joe Luke on 2016-04-19 16:14 (Reply)
Outside of not being eligible (Canada did not allow DUAL citizenship the year he was born and he admitted to giving up that citizenship two years ago, so he may be naturalized, but not natural born), he is a globalist, NWO, pawn, introduced to politics by the Bush Empire. His wife helped write the North American Union agreement awaiting passage which would eliminate borders and separate currencies -- as if we need to go through what the EU is encountering.

I could go on and on, but if you're truly looking for U.S. sovereignty with emphasis on restoring American jobs and excellence, Cruz is not your candidate.
#6 jma on 2016-04-19 16:48 (Reply)
I agree competely.
#6.1 annieoakley on 2016-04-19 17:43 (Reply)
Like HRC, wasn't he for TPP before he was against it?
#6.2 Exasperated on 2016-04-19 19:49 (Reply)
1. he'll lose to the hildabeest.

2. he's firmly established that the GOP is in the hands of the party elites.

I'm ready to concede that it doesn't matter if its Mrs Bill Clinton or Ted as preznit. at least it won't matter much to me.

your imaginary mileage may vary.
#7 Donny "The Bear Jew" Donowitz on 2016-04-19 17:23 (Reply)
As Ted pointed out in the interview, we had 7.3% GDP growth in '84. Right now we are barely at 1%. It matters to you and a lot if you have children.
#7.1 NJSoldier on 2016-04-20 08:06 (Reply)
not so for me.
#7.1.1 Donny "The Bear Jew" Donowitz on 2016-04-20 11:21 (Reply)
And there we have the problem.

Can't trust Ted, Can't trust Trump. Hillary is evil, corrupt, self serving. Bernie is a purveyor of an evil ideology - and deluded.

Can't vote Green - they'll put me in prison for denying climate change. And they're mostly idiots.

The Libertarian won't win - (and yet I always vote that way).

No one else has any name recognition - and won't get it from the press.

If I do what I normally do I'll get one of the above. Because there are so many #NEVERWHOEVER voters out there I'll likely end up with Hillary or Bernie. We really need a None of the above option - if it wins - we just disqualify everyone and start over. We'd end up with Ryan running the country as speaker of the house - until we actually get a valid election - could be worse I suppose - we could get Hillary.

Bernie might actually be the safest choice - economically a disaster if congress goes along with him - but what are the chances of that? Seriously - I wish I had a clue, but I don't.

And people wonder why voter turnout is low.
#8 vince on 2016-04-19 19:33 (Reply)
Isn't it fascinating that no one stepped forward to challenge Trump for the Worker's vote? Anyone could have coopted his message. They just aren't interested. All they have to offer are platitudes for the gullible and disdainful condescension for those, who no longer buy into their hollow reassurances.
#8.1 Exasperated on 2016-04-19 20:02 (Reply)
Jim Webb tried - and found out they had already departed the DNC.
#8.1.1 NJSoldier on 2016-04-20 08:07 (Reply)
I wish Jim Webb would have gotten some traction. He has more credibility in his little finger than Hillary and Bernie has in their whole bodies, combined.
#8.1.1.1 gman on 2016-04-20 19:08 (Reply)
Trump is a first rate con man. I will give him that much. He knows how to identify his mark, and sucker them into the scam. His finish second strategy may get delayed until the general election. But Trump has never been in it for the little guy, ever. Just look at his history of abusing the little people who get in his way. Trump is all about Trump and the Trump brand, nothing else.
#8.1.2 Ghost Rider on 2016-04-20 09:16 (Reply)
Cruz is correct on bubbles created by money supply. We are probably headed to another one from subprime according to the Big Short author.

He is also correct about too much government intervention in small business. We own a small business and if we had to start one today probably couldn't or wouldn't want to. And he is correct (as was Carly) the small community banker is being destroyed, which is the first place you go for a business loan.

Every regulation increases the risk, which is already high. When you put your savings or capital into a business and it goes bust, you lose it, and you don't collect unemployment. You pay your employees and their withholding before you pay yourself. Big business and small business are two entirely different things.
#9 Becky on 2016-04-20 06:11 (Reply)
Your argument is based on Cruz actually being able to accomplish the things he says he'll do. Give me one thing that he has accomplished as a Senator. Even his filibuster wasn't as successful as Rand Paul's.

Cruz is the establishment candidate, running as a spoiler. He can't win in the general. His supporters have made sure of that. I originally believed Cruz was trustful but it's become clear that he will do anything to get elected.
#10 Teri Pittman on 2016-04-20 09:23 (Reply)
Being a Texas, of course, I've supported Cruz since before he even ran for U.S. Senator here. I thought Walker would have done a better job getting people on his side, but I was content to switch to Cruz when Walker dropped out. In the current crop, I have no doubts about Cruz being on top. The hard part for me will be getting stuck with Trump, whom I'll still vote for rather than support either Clinton or Sanders.
#11 Texan99 on 2016-04-20 10:14 (Reply)
He can't beat Hillary. First time I heard him it was like listening to a robot. Has his talking points but can't think out of the box. Another pre-programmed drone. End of discussion.
#12 Jim on 2016-04-21 14:19 (Reply)

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