Ted Cruz talks to a Trump supporter. Cruz is intelligent and patient, the Trump supporter, like his candidate, is ignorant, obnoxious and belligerent. If Cruz loses tomorrow in Indiana then Trump will be the Republican nominee. If Cruz wins, it is likely that Trump will not win on the first ballot and he probably will not be the nominee. It all comes down to the Hoosier State.
While I am critical of much of Cruz’s communication style. He often drones on for far too long, just listen to his speech announcing Carly as his running mate. And the his recent exchange with Megyn Kelly where he wouldn’t shut up and let her ask a question. And it was on her show, for crying out loud ! But Cruz absolutely shined in this exchange. I especially like how he calmly, but explicitly, told that guy that Trump was playing him for a chump. I have long believed that politicians need to challenge voters more and stop pandering to them. And the way Cruz dealt with that Trump supporter is an example of what I am talking about.
Please, God, inspire the solid men and women of America’s heartland in Indiana to stop the Trumpish acid that is infecting social discourse. Return Trump to his Trump tower to do whatever it is he does there, no longer a danger to the rest of us. Elevate Ted Cruz, a most patient, learned and humble man who sees a vision of America that respects our Founders and honors their Constitution. Please, God. May Donald J Trump begin his long, slouching slog to ruin tomorrow. And may America heal from the charlatans that have infected Her political discourse for too long.
This exchange also illustrates that you’d have better luck pulling teeth with tweezers than reasoning with a Trump supporter.
Crus’s father should have been there to smite this trumpish barbarian upstart.
Trump is currently leading in Indiana:
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http://www.realclearpolitics.com/epolls/2016/president/in/indiana_republican_presidential_primary-5786.html
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Trump would not have been a possibility if the Republicans had defied Obama and the Democrats. And ironically Trump supporters are the same kind of imbeciles as their Democrat opponents.
Trump evidently appreciates Cruz’s talents. He is rumored to be considering him for a nomination to the Supreme Court when he is the President. Donald truly knows the art of the deal. One approach is to co-opt the enemy. Pretty shrewd particularly now.
Actually Trump on Fox this morning was peddling the ludicrous National Enquirer smear that Cruz’ father was in league with Lee Harvey Oswald.
http://www.snopes.com/2016/04/17/was-ted-cruzs-father-linked-to-the-jfk-assassination/
Trump is beneath contempt.
So obnoxious. Surrounding an unsuspecting person with security and reporters and droning on and on and on about Donald Trump. Then calling him a chump. If you respect the guy so much leave him the hell alone and stop using him for your talking points. And then later he threatens to spank a little kid. Classy guy that Ted Cruz.
Written like a true member in good standing of the Trump cult. The bozo Cruz was trying to have a conversation with obviously was pleased to have an opportunity to spew his hatred and ignorance. He was playing to his fellow cult members who were present. I will give him this however, he was just as articulate as Trump tends to be.
All you Trumpsters: I have a dollar that says that you will never see a wall on the southern border, you will never see any deported, and that you WILL see total AMNESTY for all illegals. You will get it one way or the other.
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God help us. Six months in office the Donald will announce that the wall will be too expensive and that something “smart” needs to be done like AMNESTY! And, more likely Hillary and her majority democrat/liberal/progressive Congress and liberal-packed Supreme Court will do it all day-one.
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What are you going to then, Trumpsters?
P@triot,
Cruz is indeed a classy guy. He gave a Trump supporter considerable personal, unscripted time to engage on the issues with YouTube cameras rolling. He respected him enough to let the Trump supporter choose the topics, and Cruz engaged him on his own topics. Not a photo op; a true interchange on ideas. Brave man to go one-on-one like that with a rowdy Trump protester, not knowing the outcome in advance. It is not Cruz’s fault that this Trump supporter does not have an original idea in his head and cannot explain in even one sentence what Trump is going to do on the issues. Trump HIMSELF has not explained this. “Lyin’ Ted”. That’s all he’s got. Cruz gave him considerable time there. Much more than he deserved. And he revealed to Indiana voters not just his position on issues, but his steady, fearless, polite character.
Brian.
This was another losing moment for Cruz. It was probably a set-up by Trump to make Cruz look bad which it did to most folks. Cruz should have thanked the guy and walked away. In politics to explain and defend is to lose.
“This was another losing moment for Cruz.”
No this was a winning moment if one does not limit winning to this campaign. I can imagine the “conversation” that Trump would have had with a Cruz supporter. Trump is a child in an adult body and so are many of his supporters. God help the country.
Sadly, Donald, the infantile minds supporting Trump seem to have the upper hand. To paraphrase Theoden, what can man do against such reckless stupidity?
A republic, if you can keep it. Not for much longer.
“Sadly, Donald, the infantile minds supporting Trump seem to have the upper hand.”
I think that four years of Trump as President might cure that. The essence of being a snake oil salesman is not sticking around after the mark purchases the snake oil. If Trump beats Clinton, and I would not bet against that occurrence, that option will not be available to him.
I have to confess a part of me hopes that Trump does win the general if he is the nominee, only because I look forward to squeals of horror roughly a year from now when he’s pushing an amnesty bill.
Michael, only in Trumpian politics is an explanation considered a loss. Only a Trumpster not want one. “It’s all about the emotive I suppose.
I hereby announce that if Trump becomes President, a TrumpWatch column will chronicle his various betrayals and misadventures. I will glean whatever amusement I can from the Trump Years!
It was probably a set-up by Trump to make Cruz look bad which it did to most folks.
In what universe?
It made folks who think Trump’s manner is awesome think Cruz looks bad, but that’s because Trump is a shallow bully. Cruz didn’t act like a drunk with serious insecurities about his masculinity, he acted like an adult who is really confident– that does not make him look bad to “most folks.”
What made Cruz “look bad” here is that he gave a group what they claim to want– and they choked on it.
He provided what Trump supporters have demanded– honesty, a direct response, listening– and when they could find nothing of substance or behavior to complain about, they decided to declare that he just “looks bad.”
It seems like it is more about Trump-hate, than any actual support for Cruz amongst the Cruz supporters. At least amongst DT supporters they can say they want him because he will stop the flood of illegals, or he will protect gun rights , or won’t kiss Wallstreets butt. All Cruz supporters do is tell you how much they hate DT. And that’s why he’s losing. Look at the video. Cruz spends most of the time talking about DT. He can’t run on his congressional record because he did nothing.
Foxfier. My remark was based on good authority.
“If you’re explaining, you’re losing.”
― Ronald Reagan, The Reagan Diaries
It seems like it is more about Trump-hate, than any actual support for Cruz amongst the Cruz supporters
I’ve supported Ted Cruz throughout the campaign, and with great enthusiasm. My only trepidation was his lack of gubernatorial experience, thus why I initially preferred Walker, Perry, and Jindal. Once it was clear those three were heading nowhere, it was an easy transition to support Cruz.
he will stop the flood of illegals, or he will protect gun rights , or won’t kiss Wallstreets butt.
Oh, you guys are so cute because you really think this is true.
He can’t run on his congressional record because he did nothing.
You’re really going to pit Ted Cruz’s political record against that of one of the Democrat’s biggest donors? Oh, I do hope you’re kidding.
“least amongst DT supporters they can say they want him because he will stop the flood of illegals, or he will protect gun rights , or won’t kiss Wallstreets butt.”
None of which of course is true: Trump has hired illegal aliens over the years, been in favor of amnesty, been in favor of gun control and is a crony capitalist from the start of his career. Few political movements in history have been more delusional than the support of members of the Trump Cult for a man completely antithetical to the political positions they claim to adhere to.
http://www.redstate.com/streiff/2016/01/23/donald-trump-immigration-fight-advocating-amnesty/
http://reason.com/blog/2016/02/18/donald-trumps-puctuated-evolution-on-gun
http://www.salon.com/2015/09/24/the_american_avatar_of_crony_capitalism_why_donald_trumps_domination_of_the_gop_primary_is_so_bizarre/
Really? That long? As I recall, it took Bill Clinton less than a month of working harder than he’d ever worked in his life to renege on that middle class tax cut he promised in 1992.
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I also recall Obama joking with some late-night chatterer about telling his daughters that all of that talk about getting a puppy for the white house was what is called a “campaign promise.”
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People never seem to learn.
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I think they’re going to be even angrier and more infantile than they are now.
The only thing Trump supporters can honestly say about Trump is that Trump says alot of things people like.
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And if they don’t like what he says?
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He’ll just say something else!
You Trump and Reagan have much in common in their mutual histories: both former Democrats, both actors, both formerly pro abortion, both divorced and remarried, etc.
Personally, I see Donald Trump as the new Ronald Reagan, only bigger and better. Now, perhaps some on this site might tend to disagree or it seems to appear that way from the remarks above.
You Trump and Reagan have much in common in their mutual histories: both former Democrats, both actors, both formerly pro abortion, both divorced and remarried, etc.
You missed a bunch: They were both carbon-based life forms, both had ten fingers and ten toes, both flew on airplanes, and both never appeared in my kitchen.
Personally, I see Donald Trump as the new Ronald Reagan, only bigger and better. Now, perhaps some on this site might tend to disagree or it seems to appear that way from the remarks above.
Gee Michael, what gives you that idea? Is it the vast number of times people have pointed out the innumerable ways Trump is nothing like Reagan? Did Reagan donate millions of dollars to pro-abort Democrats? Conversely, did Trump take the stump and deliver speeches and radio addresses promoting conservative ideals? Did Donald Trump ever win elective office as a Republican, governing the largest state and proving his credentials? Did Ronald Reagan personally insult his opponents?
You’re free to wallow in your delusion Michael. You may have even convinced yourself your support for Trump is not purely emotion-based nonsense based on an incoherent stream of talking points you’ve swallowed whole. Whatever gets you through the day. Sadly your vote counts as much as the person who actually is informed. Ain’t democracy great?
The attempted Trump analogy to Reagan reminds me of this statement of a political candidate:
My opponent reminds me of Lincoln, if one could imagine a short, fat, bald, corrupt and lying Lincoln!
Michael,
Reagan had a sense of humor and an infectious joy in life. The Happy Warrior. He deeply loved America. His profound respect for Her institutions guided his public life. He was a statesaman whomsurroundednhimself with men and women of similar quality.
Trump? Like Reagan? In our alternate reality of 2016 perhaps; the reality of the insane.
Thanks Paul and Donald, I needed that. Frankly, I was trying to be funny. The idea of Trump = Reagan is simply outrageous, preposterous, absurd or whatever you got.
I didn’t care for Cruz. Watching him here made a big difference! Too bad that he didn’t do more of this earlier on because this kind of experience does bring out a lot of honest feelings. Anybody who has had to face people like this can appreciate what he is doing. It does bring out more sincerity in some people. I think he is genuine here. This is the kind of person we need, someone who as President, will at least try, like he is doing now! Hell, we will all go down the drain if we don’t learn to give and take and care about each other I am a Democrat, but I care about having leaders that truly want the best for us and too bad Cruz didn’t show more of this side!I
“Trump is beneath contempt.”
So are those hosts at Fox for not even challenging him on the Rafael Cruz/Oswald claim.
“DTs”
Delirium Tremens or Donald Trump supporters? Come to think of it, what’s the difference?
Michael Dowd- oh, wow, you did a somewhat related one-line quote from Reagan! I shall now shut down all objections because of that appeal authority, never mind the lack of coherent arguments or rational support for claims, or failure to answer arguments.
Mind the puddle, sarcasm can be a bit caustic.
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With zero context, it’s impossible to know what Reagan was saying– assuming it was him, since it was an edited book– but “to explain and defend is to lose” is not the same as “if you are explaining, you are losing.”
A search of the book’s text on google books turns up no such quote, and only one result for “explain” (it wouldn’t show it); a search for the quote suggests that a politician did say it, but he wasn’t Reagan.
“Attack, attack, attack…. if you’re explaining, you’re losing.” – Lee Atwater
https://books.google.com/books?id=YMy2CgAAQBAJ&pg=PA251&dq=%22if+you%27re+explaining+you%27re+losing%22&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwi2i4ubhL_MAhUY7WMKHZtaBlIQ6AEIVzAJ#v=onepage&q=%22if%20you're%20explaining%20you're%20losing%22&f=false