Republican National Convention

RayThom · Post by **RayThom** » Thu Jul 21, 2016 11:32 am

CRUZ / Palin... 2020.

RayThom · Post by **RayThom** » Thu Jul 21, 2016 11:39 am

Where's Sarah?

I'm betting Drumpf told her to stay away to avoid making his candidacy appear like some kind of joke.

Lord Jim · Post by **Lord Jim** » Thu Jul 21, 2016 12:19 pm

I'm betting Drumpf told her to stay away to avoid making his candidacy appear like some kind of joke.

Guinevere · Post by **Guinevere** » Thu Jul 21, 2016 2:22 pm

Guinevere wrote:Even in the surreal world that is the 2016 presidential campaign I can't believe I'm writing this: "props to Ted Cruz." While what he did tonight by refusing to endorse the head Trumpanzee took some guts on that stage, but it was also incredibly self-serving. Still, I'm glad he did it and that the world saw it. Paul Ryan should be feeling every bit the hypocrite he is, right now.

Now I've got to go lie down, I've got the RNC flu...

I want to make clear I did *not* watch the clown convention, simply read and heard the reports of Cruz's speech. That was more than enough bile for one evening.

Lord Jim · Post by **Lord Jim** » Thu Jul 21, 2016 2:39 pm

I didn't watch it either, but I saw his Q&A this morning with the Texas delegation...

Ted Cruz says he won't endorse Trump like 'servile puppy'

CLEVELAND - A night after being booed off the Republican National Convention stage, Texas Sen. Ted Cruz remained defiant about Donald Trump Thursday, saying he is not a "servile puppy dog" and vowing not to support anyone who wages personal attacks against his family.

Speaking to an incensed Texas delegation, Cruz recalled an answer he gave at a Republican debate this year, when he enthusiastically said he would support the party's official nominee.

"The day that was abdicated was the day this became personal," Cruz said. "I'm not going to get into criticizing or attacking Donald Trump, but I'll give you this response: I am not in the habit of supporting people who attack my wife and attack my father."

"And that pledge was not a blanket commitment that if you go and slander and attack Heidi, I'm going to nonetheless come like a servile puppy dog and say thank you very much for maligning my wife and my father," he added.

Cruz tried to link arms with Republicans at the party's national convention Wednesday but was booed lustily by delegates when he ended his speech without offering Trump his endorsement or even saying he would vote for the New York billionaire.

http://www.newsday.com/news/nation/ted- ... 1.12072713

Wow...

Ted Cruz taking a principled stand...who'd have thought that possible?

Every time you think this can't possibly get any weirder...it does...

Guinevere · Post by **Guinevere** » Thu Jul 21, 2016 2:48 pm

That was my point above --- BUT it was also entirely in his own self-interest. Cruz is already gearing up for 2020 as the Republican's great hope, alternative to the Trumpanzee, comeback kid, a la RWR from 1976 to 1980.

Watch for it, its happening.

Lord Jim · Post by **Lord Jim** » Thu Jul 21, 2016 3:00 pm

it was also entirely in his own self-interest. Cruz is already gearing up for 2020 as the Republican's great hope, alternative to the Trumpanzee, comeback kid, a la RWR from 1976 to 1980.

Oh, I agree that's his agenda, but I think the lower-risk play even in that scenario would be to do what Reagan did with Ford, and at least perfunctorily endorse Trump (and then, like Reagan, sit on his hands during the campaign)...

You have to wonder what was going on in the mind of Trump and his advisors to give Cruz this high-profile speaking slot...

It's not like Cruz blindsided them...(As he has done so frequently with his senate colleagues...)

Cruz met with Trump two weeks ago and told him he wasn't going to endorse him, he talked with him on the phone three days ago and told him again, and the Trump campaign had the text of Cruz's speech hours before he gave it, and they knew there was no endorsement in it...

Crackpot · Post by **Crackpot** » Thu Jul 21, 2016 3:08 pm

He's hedging his bets.

rubato · Post by **rubato** » Thu Jul 21, 2016 4:35 pm

The only principle Cruz is embracing or that he has ever embraced is that he is a bigger egotist than Drumpf. More selfish and not good a team sports as befits a man who screwed his own party to make a moronic grandstand at shutting the government down.

He was just as bad a choice for president.

yrs,
rubato

Guinevere · Post by **Guinevere** » Thu Jul 21, 2016 6:45 pm

Two other quick observations: (1) Trumpanzee supposedly has said he wouldn't support NATO action to protect the Baltic States? Where is that picture of him tonguing Putin when you need it.

(2) Tonight's MakeAmericaFirst theme more than echoes the isolationist and anti-Semitic America First movement of pre- WW2. Disgusting.

Jarlaxle · Post by **Jarlaxle** » Thu Jul 21, 2016 8:55 pm

And Cruz is a two-faced weasel. Color me...unsurprised.

rubato · Post by **rubato** » Thu Jul 21, 2016 10:58 pm

Jarlaxle wrote:And Cruz is a two-faced weasel. Color me...unsurprised.

Weasel I'll give you, but "two faced"? When has Cruz not supported himself over all else? What is the other face?

yrs,
rubato

Scooter · Post by **Scooter** » Thu Jul 21, 2016 11:07 pm

I think it's been more than obvious that I have absolutely no use for Ted Cruz, but on this point he is absolutely right - the moment Trump made those vile and libellous statements about Cruz's family members, that pledge to endorse the eventual nominee was voided. And if the Trump campaign was collectively stupid enough to give Cruz that sort of a platform, they deserved whatever pasting Cruz had planned for them.

Econoline · Post by **Econoline** » Thu Jul 21, 2016 11:54 pm

I too despise Cruz and all he stands for, but I give him credit for going to the convention and making his speech and disregarding the negative reaction. The easier thing to do would have been to just stay away and say nothing.

Oh, and...

comeback kid, a la RWR from 1976 to 1980.

...or a la RMN from 1964 to 1968?

RayThom · Post by **RayThom** » Fri Jul 22, 2016 12:50 am

Long Run · Post by **Long Run** » Fri Jul 22, 2016 1:09 am

Econoline wrote:.or a la RMN from 1964 to 1968?

Minor correction: Nixon lost in 1960 to JFK. He ran for California governor in 1962 and was beaten by Jerry Brown's father, Pat. That is when he gave his famous, "you don't have Nixon to kick around any more, because, gentlemen, this is my last press conference." He did not run in 1964 election (but did introduce Goldwater at the Convention), and, of course, he returned for 1968.

Lord Jim · Post by **Lord Jim** » Fri Jul 22, 2016 1:19 am

(but did introduce Goldwater at the Convention)

And he endorsed him, and he campaigned hard for him...

Econoline · Post by **Econoline** » Fri Jul 22, 2016 1:36 am

I was thinking more of the period from Goldwater's disastrous, landslide defeat in 1964 (hopefully to be repeated by Trump this November!) and Nixon's--and the GOP's--comeback in 1968. I think this year, given the Republican establishment's feelings about Trump, NOT campaigning for the nominee might be seen as MORE politically advantageous than actually campaigning for him--especially if the defeat is as YOOGE as seems likely.

Sue U · Post by **Sue U** » Fri Jul 22, 2016 1:39 am

Ted Cruz is hardly one to stand on high moral ground considering the dirty tricks he pulled in the primaries. His is not a principled stand; it's an excuse for shitting on the Trump convention and a tactic in setting himself up as the anti-Trump for 2020.

Econoline · Post by **Econoline** » Fri Jul 22, 2016 1:45 am

I wish he would stop this stubborn defense of principle and this stubborn attachment he has to his own independence, because his politics are still hopelessly retrograde, and his interpretation of American political history still leaves you stranded about half-past the Articles of Confederation, and I don't want to admire him as much as I do right now.

(credit Charlie Pierce)

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