AProudNavyVeteran69 Loc: Burien,Washington

Is Ted Cruz as Tough as Donald Trump?
David Limbaugh | Mar 19, 2016
David Limbaugh



A Donald Trump supporter told me she likes Ted Cruz but doesn't believe he is tough enough to handle the powerful forces he'd face in the general e******n and asked me to convince her otherwise.

Here is a summary of what I told her.

I think you overestimate the power of those forces -- a crippled Hillary Clinton team and weakened Democrats. And I gather you mistake Trump's toughness in business for the muscular resolve he'd need in public office -- while underestimating Cruz's steel backbone.

The only way to reverse the statism and autocratic lawlessness beleaguering America is through conservative principles. Trump has no conservative core, so no matter how tough he is, I see nothing to convince me he would fight for principles he barely believes in.

We need to start having confidence in our own ideas and quit being so scared of the media and establishment powers you seem to fear. We empower them through this weakness. Cruz has already been tested and passed. Trump, while reputed to be a brass-knuckles brawler, has already waffled on several positions during the campaign, including his signature issue of immigration.

Just as you implored me to respond to your email, I implore you to listen to your own heart. You've conceded that Cruz would be the best candidate in two decades. Why compromise yourself based on abstract fears about a media boogeyman or other forces that surely will oppose him? Cruz's strength and resolve are among his finest attributes. Look at what he has done against all odds already.

Few gave him any chance at first. Many have ganged up on him. The press has alternatively savaged and ignored him. Yet he has plowed forward and is within striking distance of Trump. He has done so by smart, disciplined organization and his consistent principled message.

Yes, Trump can be tough, but there are various kinds of toughness. The relevant kind is the strength to resist pressure to deviate from core principles. Cruz has held the same firm beliefs his entire life. This is who he is. He will not abandon them.

Trump, on the other hand, is pliable because he has fewer core principles that he couldn't abandon without great anguish. In his heart of hearts, he is either a moderate with many liberal tendencies or simply a pragmatic populist. For the life of me, I can't understand how people can ignore that Trump has never been conservative and that he's never even claimed to have a conversion. If you listen closely, he even mocks true conservatism and downplays Ronald Reagan's vintage conservatism. He not only has bought political influence all his life but also brags about it. Only moral relativists can distinguish the buyer of influence from the seller.

You might argue that it doesn't matter whether he's a constitutional conservative; we just need to shake things up. But please think through this. That the left and establishment GOP have created (and allowed) this deplorable mess does not mean we must aimlessly rearrange it with machismo. We cannot solve our many problems by introducing more chaos. The way to ensure America's resurrection as the shining city on a hill is through constitutional and conservative principles. The power of the people resides in an enduring Constitution, not in populist ear candy.

Our main goal should be to vastly shrink the federal leviathan -- not annihilate the establishment, though it will implode in the process as a direct result. Our main enemy is the out-of-control government that has sucked all of freedom's oxygen out of our system. We must reinstitute constitutional principles because they guarantee the principle of limited government. Many nations in history have had democratic participation, but none other has enjoyed our singular brand of liberty because they all have lacked structural limitations on government, the primary enemy of liberty throughout history.

As a constitutional conservative of deep and abiding conviction, Cruz is uniquely qualified to restore the integrity of the Constitution, from guarding our nation's borders and thus its sovereignty to shrinking the federal government and its unaccountable administrative branch to appointing constitutionalist justices to reinforcing the separation of powers to recapturing the principle of federalism and ensuring governmental powers are more evenly divided between the federal government and state governments to upholding the Bill of Rights in toto to unleashing the power of the free market, resulting in explosive economic growth, to rebuilding our military.

Cruz understands and embraces all these ideas and truly believes the antidote to America's ailments is constitutional and conservative principles. Neither "Constitution" nor "conservatism" is a red-meat sound bite to him. We don't want a president who will, like a liberal, employ an ends-justify-the-means approach to governance. We can't have a chief executive or commander in chief flouting the Constitution, even for noble policy ends. It's one thing for the left to trample the Constitution, but once the right starts doing it also, it's over and you can kiss this nation, as founded, goodbye.

President Cruz would not act lawlessly -- i.e., outside his constitutional scope. If elected by campaigning on a clear conservative message, he would have a clear mandate to implement a strong, conservative agenda.

I believe as an American I have a fiduciary duty to my country, and as a parent, I have a fiduciary duty to my children and fellow Americans not to squander this nation's future and their future by allowing my frustration with the ruling class to lead me to choose the wrong remedy for the mess we're in.

We need a particular kind of strength in statecraft. And that kind of strength can only be derived by a strong, unwavering commitment to principles. So in analyzing the toughness issue, please use the proper metrics. Donald Trump is tough in certain ways. But he is not tough when criticized, and blistering criticism is the standard fare of politics. Ted Cruz is the opposite. He would do what he says he'd do; he's already proved that. And what he says he'd do is the only remedy for this ailing nation.

http://www.townhall.com



:roll: It works both Ways!!! and we must decide one way or the Other. In my Opinion Trump Has more Fire under his tail !!! and he is not afraid to tell it like it is. Ted Cruz is to Mushy!! and can't follow up with what he should be doing to help Us. Now what's your Opinion?

BigMike Loc: yerington nv

I can see a three-way Celebrity Deathmatch! My money would be on Trump!

peter11937 Loc: NYS

I'm with you.

AProudNavyVeteran69 Loc: Burien,Washington

:thumbup: :thumbup: :thumbup: :thumbup: Same Here!!!

AProudNavyVeteran69 Loc: Burien,Washington

:thumbup: :thumbup: :thumbup: :thumbup: :thumbup: That's a Big 10-4!!!!

Ricko Loc: Florida

NavyVet-agree ! Ted is undoubtedly a good man. He is principled conservative who will strictly adhere to the Constitution which could hamper his getting anything done. He is head and shoulders above Hillary but may cause more gridlock problems than solutions. We need someone who can work with both parties to advance the country's agenda. I will certainly support Cruz if he is the nominee but ,this time around, I would prefer a Trump/Cruz ticket. Good Luck America !!!

BigMike Loc: yerington nv

Trump/Cruz ticket sure has the potential to derail the Establishment! :-D

Ricko Loc: Florida

BigMike-it would probably be their worst nightmare as they cannot control either one. Trump would probably only serve one term after which Cruz would be in a good position to assume the top slot provided they do a credible job for the country. Believe Cruz would be an active VP who would readily take on tasks which would advance the conservative agenda. I do not see a Cruz/Trump ticket because Cruz would most likely Opt for Fiorina. Unless he wins the top job, Trump will go back to the business life. Good Luck America !!!

peter11937 Loc: NYS

In the event Trump wins the presidency , he will do as much as he can to deliver what he has said he will. While making the political establishment ery very angry and putting many of them out of work. After 4 years of that, he'd will a second term in a landslide. , Ted, having learned, would have a good chance in 2024.....Inheriting a nation with less debt, lower taxes and more advantageous trade agreements and good relationships with our allies including Israel.

lpnmajor Loc: Arkansas

Ole Teddy is a puppet and will do as he's told, like a good little politician. He didn't become Senator by "bucking the rules" - or the RNC wouldn't have let him out of the gate - but he damn sure robs the other Senators the wrong way.

Here's how silly and childish politicians really are. Lindsey Graham once made a joke, that if someone murdered Cruz on the floor of the Senate, and was tried in the Senate - no one would convict him. Now - he supports Cruz over Trump.

America Only Loc: From the right hand of God

Who funds the choices Ted Cruz makes? Business as usual with a different tune, but still business as usual with anyone else but Trump as far as whom is running for President!

roy

Exactly right,and exactly who is paying to get these people to r**t at trumps rallies,

Loki Loc: Georgia

For what it's worth, here is MY opinion:
Ted Cruz has spent his entire career standing up for and defending conservative principles.
Donald Trump has spent his entire career, up until about a year ago, supporting and funding Liberal causes.
Ted Cruz has been a solid conservative his entire life.
Donald Trump had an overnight conversion to conservative principles the day before he decided to run for president and did a 180 on positions he has held for years.

Who did you say was "squishy?"

sisu77

David Limbaugh is really losing it during this e******n cycle...Doesn't he even know or care that Ted Cruz is not even an American citizen? According to Ted's own Dad, both his wife and son were Canadian citizens when Ted was born in Canada. There was no dual citizenship in 1970 and Ted had to be naturalized if he ever wanted to become an American citizen. Where are his naturalization papers? ..Ted is bought by the special interests and is, in fact, the second biggest recipient of PAC money. We can't trace this money to the people who are really controlling the i*****l a***n candidate...Considering that Cruz is the "annointed king" of the anti-Semitic D******n cult and I would be weary of him. His false religion sees nothing wrong with lying and playing dirty tricks andTed has become a master in these demonic arts (Matthew 7:20)...Ted talks conservative to conservatives but has long record of passing liberal legislation and working with the Bush cabal in destroying our borders and ripping up our Constitution. He is as phony as phony can be.

sisu77

David Limbaugh is really losing it during this e******n cycle...Doesn't he even know or care that Ted Cruz is not even an American citizen? According to Ted's own Dad, both his wife and son were Canadian citizens when Ted was born in Canada. There was no dual citizenship in 1970 and Ted had to be naturalized if he ever wanted to become an American citizen. Where are his naturalization papers? ..Ted is bought by the special interests and is, in fact, the second biggest recipient of PAC money. We can't trace this money to the people who are really controlling the i*****l a***n candidate...Considering that Cruz is the "annointed king" of the anti-Semitic D******n cult and I would be weary of him. His false religion sees nothing wrong with lying and playing dirty tricks andTed has become a master in these demonic arts (Matthew 7:20)...Ted talks conservative to conservatives but has long record of passing liberal legislation and working with the Bush cabal in destroying our borders and ripping up our Constitution. He is as phony as phony can be.