Anyone else not laughing off Ted Cruz?

[TDale313]

We all know he's a whack job, but he is *not* stupid. And sadly his style will resonate with more people than we might like to think. I doubt he could win in the general, but I think we underestimate him at our peril.

[Wounded Bear]

1. I can't bring myself to laugh...

there are far too many people in this country who consider him fit for office.

[erronis]

72. You know, those laughs that end up being vomit?

Perhaps too strong for many, but those original belly-laughs end up being dry wretches. [stet]

[cali]

2. me. You got it precisely right.

And he's an effective speaker. I hate virtually everything he proposes, but he's good at this shit.

[MynameisBlarney]

77. I think he's just wanting to access some of that

campaign cash.
If he's half as smart as some people are claiming he is, then he should know he doesn't stand a chance of getting the GOP nomination, much less actually becoming prez.

[FBaggins]

164. That doesn't mean that he isn't dangerous

I agree that he likely can't get the nomination (this time around), but he could be picked for VP to round out a ticket (perhaps pre announcing with Walker to help overcome Bush).

That would make for a dangerous ticket that might win (and THAT puts him in line for a presidential bid)

[Quackers]

3. I'll say it now.

There's no way in hell he'll win the general and I don't think he'll get the nomination. Jmo

[Iliyah]

108. He's not as smart some equate him to be as well as Scott Walker

Its the money factor and fear factor and down right bat s**t crazy that are given them the lime light. Remember Sarah Palin? Corporate media, hate radio and RW social media who could not get enough of her. Same will apply here. Accidently came across I believe cnn who was giving a general background of Cruz in the positive. They said nothing about being born in Canada.

Where the hell is Orly Taitz and the rest of the Birthers? Also, Jeb will be anointed the GOP nom, KKKarl Rove, Darth Cheney and the rest of the Bush cronies have already came to that conclusion.

[tblue37]

148. Trump has already started to bring up the birther issue on Cruz. nt

[ND-Dem]

156. he's not batshit crazy. and he's pretty smart. cum laude princeton, magna cum

laude Harvard law + a fairly distinguished resume.

[Art_from_Ark]

158. And Tom Cotton also had an impressive resume at Harvard

But a funny thing happened on the way to the forum...

[ND-Dem]

161. cruz kept on having an impressive resume after university. cotton is the classic

"can't decide what to focus on" + loose cannon.

and he didn't get honors as an undergrad or JD.

[TheCowsCameHome]

4. The entertainment value alone is worth the risk.

I'll drop my cable subscription and Redbox accounts until 2017 if this guy goes all-in.

Just wait until his own party carves him up.

Seriously, this guy is going noooooo where.

[Bettie]

5. The evangelicals

will vote for him, because they will be told that is what "God" wants them to do.

And a lot of other religious people will vote for him because they'll figure his overt expressions of religion make him a good person.

But, it is early yet and has has a lot of time to talk and make himself unelectable.

[calimary]

17. He's already unelectable. By birth. He was BORN unelectable.

In Canada. Last I looked, Canada was NOT one of the 50 states.

[Bettie]

20. His mother was a citizen

thus, he is legally able to run.

Darn it.

[calimary]

64. Um, nobody accepted that explanation with Barack Obama although it was true THERE, too.

And Barack Obama was born ON AMERICAN SOIL. ted cruz was NOT. Unless you consider Canada to be part of American soil. Last I looked, Canada was its own separate sovereign country. As NOT-America as you can get, and I'm sure ANY Canadian would agree with that.

Last I looked, Hawaii became a state, our 50th, before Barack Obama was even a twinkle in his parents' eyes.

[NCTraveler]

86. If by "nobody accepted that explanation," you actually mean....

it was accepted by almost every single American, you would be correct.

[Kelvin Mace]

103. Doesn't matter. He is eligible

under the law.

"Because they were crazy first" is not a recognized legal doctrine.

[calimary]

110. "Because they were crazy first" is not one of the reasons I cited.

1) Because he was NOT born on US soil - don't care WHAT his mother was. It matters WHERE she was when she gave birth. If she was on US soil when he popped out then he's a US citizen. She was in CANADA when he popped out. And last I looked, Canada was NOT one of the 50 states - OR US territory or possession.
2) Because john mccain - nope, that doesn't hold either. john mccain was born on US soil. His mother was in the Panama Canal Zone at a US hospital installation there, I believe. The Canal Zone back then WAS a US territory or possession or whatever they called it. Like Guam. Like the Virgin Islands. Like Puerto Rico. They're not states either. But they're considered US territory and if you're born there, you are automatically a US citizen. So that counts FOR mccain.
3) Because Obama - Nope. Not the same thing. President Obama's mom was in the 50th State when he popped out. And Hawaii HAD BEEN the 50th state for at least a couple of years before his birth. And yeah, she was an American citizen too. Just like we're told ted cruz's mom was. But it matters more WHERE she was when she gave birth. She could be on the moon and, if it's an American installation, it's technically American soil. She could be at the US Embassy in Moscow or Beijing and THAT is technically American soil, too. But cruz's mother was in CANADA. Have we annexed Canada? When did the US do that? Was I asleep in bed when that happened?

[Kelvin Mace]

117. Sorry, but you have about 200 years of precedent

If you are born of an American parent you are an American.

One may also be a "natural born Citizen" if, despite a birth on foreign soil, U.S. citizenship immediately passes from the person's parents.

https://www.law.cornell.edu/wex/natural_born_citizen

While some constitutional issues are truly difficult, with framing-era sources either nonexistent or contradictory, here, the relevant materials clearly indicate that a “natural born Citizen” means a citizen from birth with no need to go through naturalization proceedings. The Supreme Court has long recognized that two particularly useful sources in understanding constitutional terms are British common law3. See Smith v. Alabama, 124 U.S. 465, 478 (1888). and enactments of the First Congress.4. See Wisconsin v. Pelican Ins. Co., 127 U.S. 265, 297 (1888). Both confirm that the original meaning of the phrase “natural born Citizen” includes persons born abroad who are citizens from birth based on the citizenship of a parent.

http://harvardlawreview.org/2015/03/on-the-meaning-of-natural-born-citizen/

Ultimately, the issue could be brought before the Supreme Court for an absolute ruling, but do you doubt the outcome of such a ruling?

Cruz will NEVER be president of the U.S., he is highly unlikely to win the GOP nomination as he is loathed by the money wing of the party. He and his supporters are barking mad.

[dgibby]

129. John McCain

was NOT born on the base, but he's still a citizen of the U.S. because his parents wer citizens. Please do yourself a favor and reseach the law regarding this.

[ND-Dem]

157. his mother was a citizen; he's a citizen. doesn't matter where he was born. you

don't have to be born in the US to be a citizen.

[Ikonoklast]

109. My nephew was born in Spain, to a U.S. citizen (my sister) and a Spanish national.

Grew up in Spain, attended school in England, now teaches at Syracuse.

A soon as he turns 35 he will be eligible to run for the presidency, as he will have been in this country for at least fourteen years by that time.

He is as much an American citizen as I am, and his passport says so.

[Volaris]

145. At least one of his parents were American Citizens, so he could have been born on Mars..makes no dif

but as to the point you were trying to make..
IOKIYAR.

[tkmorris]

26. I wish that were true but it isn't

Oh he was born in Canada, but since he was born to an American mother he is deemed to be a "natural-born citizen".

[calimary]

66. But he isn't. So was Barack Obama. Born to an American mother. Nobody counted that in his case.

Why should we make an exception for ted cruz? And he wasn't even born on US soil. Canada is NOT the US. Anymore than Cuba is.

[Danascot]

84. Cruz is a white Republican

'nuff said.

[yeoman6987]

106. He is President! Complaining and moaning by Republicans changed nothing.

[ND-Dem]

159. obviously they did, because obama's president. if you have an american parent, you're

an American. you don't have to be born on 'us soil'.

[valerief]

37. And John McCain was born in Panama. nt

[calimary]

74. And the canal zone at the time was considered American territory, and therefore, it qualified

as "American soil." So yes, he qualified, too.

I'm just at a loss - watching the coverage this morning - and NOBODY is bringing up this point. And seems to me it's still a point that needs to be brought up!

[dgibby]

128. Nobody is bringing it up because

they all know something you evidently don't (or refuse to accept). He is a U.S. citizen. He could have been born on Mars and he'd still be a citizen of the U.S. if one of his parents is a U.S. citizen. The law is very clear about this.

[Curmudgeoness]

75. On a military base in Panama.

Military bases in foreign lands are considered "American" soil, as are embassies.

[valerief]

104. Hawaii was a state when Obama was born, but that doesn't stop the GOP from whining. nt

[Hekate]

65. Sorry, Cruz' Mom is a US citizen. Also, his party once like Arnold Schwartzenegger for president....

Remember that gem? Unmistakeable Austrian accent and all. Seems being an over-muscled pretend action hero who's also white can overcome little details like not being born in the US, not having any parents born in the US, and being a naturalized citizen.

Then Barack Obama came along and all of that disappeared in a nanosecond. In Obama we have someone who was born in the 50th State, period. His mother and all her family were US-born for generations. But nooooo.

But the GOP turns on a dime, and now we have Cruz, whose credentials are juuuuust fine. Did I mention he's also white?

[calimary]

73. Yeah, well I'm still gonna point that out.

And Ahnold could run for Governor. And he did. And he ran our state directly into the ground. Took another Democrat to pull us back out of that abyss of red ink.

You can run for pretty much ANYTHING as ANY non-American nationality - EXCEPT the Presidency.

I realize the GOP sees rules as not applying to them. But the rules are STILL THERE.

[guillaumeb]

111. of parents who are US citizens

you only need to have one parent who is a US citizen to be a US citizen yourself. Even in Canada. My mother was US and lived there long enough. Many of us are in the same situation as Ted Cruz.

But my fear is that Cruz, as crazy as he appears, makes someone like Jeb Bush look more moderate and centrist by comparison. People like Cruz and Palin move the center point farther right just by being taken seriously by the media. The exposure "normalizes" their views in the eyes of many.

THAT is the problem with Ted Cruz.

[Hoyt]

6. Unfortunately lots of folks like that stuff. Love him invoking slave owner Pat Henry for "liberty."

The sad truth is that any of these right wingers could win, given the right circumstances.

[whathehell]

7. I don't find him threatening, just annoying

You say that you "doubt he could win in the general". Forgive me

if I sound arrogant, but I KNOW he could never win in the General.

He's much too far to the Right and, not JUST the Right, but the Religious

Right to be electable in the general election.

[lark]

81. He won't win the nomination,

not because he's crazy but because the big $$ guys are backing the "more std." candidates and not the teabagger Cruz. He's not enough of a "Party" guy, more all about himself and screw everyone else. That's why he won't be backed and won't be the nominee.
They want some easily bendable sycophant, like Mittens.

[whathehell]

126. I agree..

I would only say that it's his craziness that makes him less than standard/establishment.

[TexasProgresive]

8. I learned never to laugh at the chances of a fool for office in the

November 1994 Texas Governor's election. That would be when the shrub beat Ann Richards against all odds.

[DemocratSinceBirth]

48. Yeah, because a state that hasn't voted Democratic at the presidential level since 1976...

Yeah, because a state that hasn't voted Democratic at the presidential level since 1976 is a proxy for the rest of the country.

[bigbrother05]

116. Can still remember that election night like it was yesterday

At the county Dem HQ as the results came in. One worker was so upset she said she wanted to shoot the Shrub.

[wyldwolf]

9. I'm laughing off Ted Cruz

[Arkana]

10. He's a whackjob and a footnote. He's burned every bridge in his own party

and the only possible path for him is if he manages to destroy every other candidate and go out in a Goldwater-esque blaze of glory.

We have more important things to fear than Ted fucking Cruz's quixotic bid for the Presidency. I'm not going to pretend to be afraid of him.

[TDale313]

21. I hope that's true.

I hope people will see what an extremist he is. I think we need to be on our guard and make sure that's the case. He's not stupid, he's a very good speaker, and there are a lot of gullible people in this country.

[Tuesday Afternoon]

11. I don't like it, either. Not at all. The birthers will totally use this because they never believed

Obama was born here thus finding a way to allow Cruz to legally run.

That being born in USA thing .... we can throw that out the window.

It is gone girl.

[hedda_foil]

25. Unfortunately, Cruz qualifies as a natural born citizen.

Cruz's mother was born and raised in Wilmington, Delaware, according to his Wikipedia entry. That makes him a natural born US citizen, wherever he was born. (Of course it also means that Obama would still have been eligible to be president even if he had been born in Kenya, which is why the birthers' nonsense was so completely off the wall.)

And yes, I take him very, very seriously. He will say or do anything to get elected, and he is the most accomplished demagogue I've ever heard. He doesn't really need the party fathers because there are very deep pockets behind him. I also take Rand Paul seriously. After Reagan's election, I no longer laugh.

[Tuesday Afternoon]

30. thank you for explaining it. I don't understand why/how Birthers kept pushing it. Can we all shutup

with that shit now?! cheesus that shit Got BORING.

and Yes, I am not laughing anymore. It is NOT FUNNY.

This coming election is so important. The SC issue alone ... Scares me at what could happen ...

[Erich Bloodaxe BSN]

12. Me, I just watched his speech.

Well written, well-given, hitting every note his audience loves, while still not making them confront the cognitive dissonances inherent in the images he presented and what he would do in office.

Let's face it, his immigrant parents wouldn't have ever become American citizens if someone like himself had been in charge back then.

He's an effective liar as well, as he demonstrates in his lies about Climate Change on tv, pretending that he actually respects science, and then making up crap that the science completely disputes.

[stevenleser]

13. I predicted he would be the nominee months ago. He's a dangerous scheming, calculating

narcissist.

[TDale313]

18. Yes he is.

[calimary]

14. Um - he wasn't born here. Last I looked, Canada was not one of the 50 states.

Yes, we underestimate him - and all the whack jobs who support him. But facts are facts. And even if he renounced his Canadian citizenship, which he did awhile back, that doesn't somehow magically change where he was born.

[jeff47]

22. He's the child of US citizens, which makes him a citizen.

Just like born-in-Panama John McCain.

[Tuesday Afternoon]

31. just like "kenyan born" Obama for that matter. fucking birthers and their dumbass shit.

[YvonneCa]

127. Many are confusing the terms...

...'natural born' with 'naturalized' citizenship.
1.A Natural born citizen becomes a citizen by EITHER being born on US soil OR by having a US citizen parent.
2. A naturalized citizen becomes a citizen by going through the federal process to become a citizen...they were NOT born on US soil AND do not have a US citizen parent.
#1s may become President. #2s may not.

[forthemiddle]

15. I admit to a 2008 deja vu moment

In the early going Hillary was the presumptive candidate. The one no one would beat (along with Mayor 9/11) but then along came a relative unknown (except among the party activists) 1st term Senator.
He was a young lawyer, charismatic, minority, heck he even had a "birther" problem.
Everyone said there is no way America is ready for a minority President (especially one named Barak Hussein Obama!)

Don't those resumes look like?

I am in no way comparing their ideology's, just their resumes on paper, and if Cruz can purport a more libertarian viewpoint, he may persuade some younger voters. Who knows?, Who expected Obama to excite the electorate, and especially the young like he did?

In 2008 the voters came out because they were excited! Obama was different, and exciting. Can we say the same for Hillary?

I have not been shy about saying "No more Clintons, No more Bushs", and I will continue to state that I do not see Hillary exciting the independents. But I could be wrong.

[DemocratSinceBirth]

60. Barack Obama lost Indys by 8% in 012 and was handily re-elected...

In fact Cruz's nativism can push the Democratic share of the Asian and Latino vote from the low 70s in the 012 election to the high eighties in this one.

[A Simple Game]

94. I think you are right. I have been saying for a long time

if Hillary is the Democratic nominee then whoever is the Republican nominee will be the next President.

[Voice for Peace]

96. I think he is way too religious for libertarians.

[hamsterjill]

16. I just posted something similar in another thread.

I'm from Texas and I'm not laughing. Cruz is an obvious idiot, but I've witnessed George Bush, Greg Abbott, Dan Kirkpatrick and Louis Gohmert elected in my state.

I'll laugh in December, 2016.

Democrats need to take this shit seriously - even though it's hard to take someone like Cruz seriously. The reason we must take him seriously is because he's not the only NUT out there. There are plenty of voters who are just as nuts as he is.

This country would not survive with someone like this idiot in the Oval Office. I will take that VERY seriously.

[pinboy3niner]

19. Have they polled Thing 1 and Thing 2?

[randome]

23. Despite what some say about his being 'super smart'...

...he didn't even form an exploratory committee and already that shows how unprepared he is for the spotlight. All the good Ted Cruz domain names are taken already.

He's a smart prick, according to his classmates: http://talkingpointsmemo.com/edblog/me-ted

But I'm guessing his cleverness was overstated. He knows how to put on a good show and convince people he's smart. That's not the same thing as being truly smart.
[hr][font color="blue"][center]There is nothing you can't do if you put your mind to it.
Nothing.[/center][/font][hr]

[2naSalit]

35. ...he didn't even form an exploratory committee

I see that as being a confidence in how the whole show has already been planned for and "constructed". Do look for similarities in a number of campaigns, they are pretty much all paid for by the same small crowd of well wishers. These campaigns, I suspect will have little variety because they are probably all cookie-cutter shaped cut from a template created by the KKKarl the rover and his ilk.

This indicates the death throes of our democratic structure as a nation and we'd better do the right thing yesterday.

This guy is a sick joke of the most dangerous sort, and he has company.

[TheCowsCameHome]

42. Reason #1: No one wants to associated with him.

[2naSalit]

50. I am not convinced about that.

He chairs a very important committee in the Senate along with other seats he holds... I think much of what we see as "show".


Enjoy your mirth, I'm not laughing.

[randome]

52. Most of the GOP doesn't like him. Most of his classmates in Harvard didn't like him.

My link above details some of that. He is, simply put, a thoroughly unlikable person.
[hr][font color="blue"][center]Treat your body like a machine. Your mind like a castle.[/center][/font][hr]

[2naSalit]

56. Let's hope he

unravels quickly, I can't take the stress like I used to. Whether he's likeable or not seems to be beside the point in these times, it's who bought you... not like there's any difference really.

[randome]

68. Bush, Jr. was a nightmare come true.

But I think that was sort of a '500 year flood' kind of thing. And yes, my fingers are crossed, too.
[hr][font color="blue"][center]A ton of bricks, a ton of feathers, it's still gonna hurt.[/center][/font][hr]

[progressoid]

24. If he runs, He'll only get as far a Huckabee or Cain or Santorum did.

[Skidmore]

27. And because all four of them are sure they are

chosen by god (capitalize if you wish), the votes will be split between them.

[cali]

63. He is running. He announced today. And you're wrong.

[NightWatcher]

28. He sounds like an idiot and the average American will not take him seriously

Sure, he'll get his few nutjob base members, but the average American will not vote for him.

Fwiw, I still don't think he's eligible to be President (he's a Canuck)

[LibDemAlways]

61. Sounding like an idiot is no problem for

millions of US voters who are idiots themselves. Witness 8 years of GW Bush.

[cali]

71. He doesn't sound like an idiot to me. I loath what he espouses

and believes, but he doesn't sound like an idiot.

[Andy823]

142. He is the male version of

Palin. He is smart enough to know she made millions "fleecing" the flock of nut jobs on the tea bagger band wagon, and he wants to get his share will he still can. Only complete idiots would vote for this guy, and he knows it, but as long as those idiots want to donate, he will rake it in, just like Palin did.

[spanone]

29. i lived thru barry goldwater, fuck the clown

[TBF]

32. I think Scott Walker's a greater threat -

but yes there are actually people who support these guys. I've seen unofficial groups on Facebook that have been working for him for awhile now. I like to think that as a whole we can defeat either Cruz or Walker but they do have A LOT of money behind them and they appeal to a certain element in this country.

[FBaggins]

165. The problem is that they don't appeal to the SAME parts of the country...

...and Walker gets to pick a VP candidate to run with him

[Triana]

33. One thing America has in absolute abundance: S T U P I D

And that's just the way Republicans and their corprat media like it.

Too bad we can't pay off the national debt or feed the poor with it.

Laughing? Hardly. After Drinky Dumbass (aka GWB) was appointed King by the USSC, I think we take all comers seriously. We can laugh at their clownish, insidious, idiocy - but when it comes to "electing" idiots for President, I've seen it happen enough to not rule any of the morons out.

[TDale313]

40. Very well put.

And yes, I'm all for laughing at them, which is far different from assuming they couldn't possibly be any threat.

[olddots]

34. I think the ignorance of the newsies is a polnt to fear

Politics has become show bizz and cheap entertainment since TV entered homes .Cruz along with almost everyone lwft right and center are just pawns in the media game = The world is ending ,back after this commercial .

Will the conservatoids come up with a new HUAC ? it will sell product .

[TDale313]

44. Yep, the media's a huge part of the problem.

[Atman]

36. I think he is calculated and cunning, but not stupid.

Well, wait a minute...I think he's crazy, but not stupid, if he really believes his Whackadoodle message is going to resonate in the general election. But he's smart enough to know that it will get lots of people to send him money, he'll live off the dole for a couple of years before he sells his next book and starts booking lucrative speaking fees. This year won't be much different than the 2012 elections, wherein most of the candidates were in it for the free air time to peddle various types of snake oil.

I have to believe Cruz realizes he doesn't have a chance in hell of winning...that's why he jumped in so early. Twenty more people are in the GOP clown car, and Fox "News" and the liberal media will name each one Front Runner at some point during the election cycle. They'll all make money off their books or their contracts with Fox. Even if Cruz gets knocked out early, he'll make a fortune as a pundit for the 2016 race. But very few of them really think for a minute that they'll actually be elected President. That would just be a bonus on top of their book sales, speaking fees and lobbying jobs.

Then again, GW Bush might have gotten elected the second time, we'll never really know, although he certainly didn't get elected the first time. But he still occupied the White House and seriously fucked up the country for a long time after he took the oath of office. The lesson being, hubris will kill us. We need to get out and vote, even the Hillary-haters. And Ted Cruz might just be bat-shit crazy enough (but not stupid) to try to ride this out all the way. George W. Bush is a testament to the fact that stranger things have happened.

[LanternWaste]

38. He's Sarah Palin 2.0. He'll do as well as her... no more, no less.

He's Sarah Palin 2.0. He'll do as well as her... no more, no less.

[bklyncowgirl]

39. Not me. He has a superficial charm and slick style. Unlike Bush he knows what he is doing.

I also think that the Republican right is not going to be so easily denied this time out. They lost to the establishment in 2008 and 2012 and see the fact that Big money rammed McCain and Romney down their throats as the sole reason for Obama's success.

Cruz is beloved by the Fundamentalists and Tea Party types. If he can overwhelm the other Tea Party Types and disarm the establishment he could win the nomination.

I don't think he can win a general election but then again stranger things have happened. He is slick and quick on his feet. He also seems to lack any sort of ethics that I can see. As Jerry Brown said, he is a liar. I thought that this country would never elect George W. Bush either--alright we didn't--technically--but with a lackluster candidate, a complacent Democratic party plus division on the left we could see 2008 all over again.

[w8liftinglady]

41. He scares the shit out of me.

This is his voting record. It needs to be thrown in his face at every turn

https://votesmart.org/candidate/key-votes/135705/ted-cruz#.VRA3l1X3-ix

[hatrack]

43. There's more than enough of Teh Stupid sloshing around out there to make a win possible

He's insane, he's a narcissist, but he's also got enough of the low cunning politics demands. I wouldn't call it "intelligence", certainly.

He can also lie about pretty much anything with soapy sincerity, and millions of Americans send hundreds of millions of dollars to buffoons like Creflo Dollar and Pat Robertson, possessed as they are of the same skills, which means he can also raise enough money to keep things running for a while.

[Blanks]

45. I didn't think Dubya had a chance either...

He came across as a complete moron, and yet...

The only thing that Cruz has going against him is that he is in congress. Name a republican senator that has become president (without being a governor or Vice President).

The workings of the senate are too complex for conservative voters. The 'machine' is grooming a governor. If they run a senator for president again, they aren't serious about winning.

I'm not laughing off Cruz, but republican senators don't have the executive experience. I look for Jeb, Perry or even Huckabee to stand out in the clown field.

[SoLeftIAmRight]

46. Where was he born?

It will be fun asking about the "long form".

[tridim]

47. Laughing at, and laughing off.

Last edited Mon Mar 23, 2015, 12:44 PM - Edit history (1)

And not afraid at all.

https://screen.yahoo.com/weekend-tim-calhoun-running-president-000000228.html

[Algernon Moncrieff]

49. I'm not laughing off anyone on the Republican side

2016 is going to be a very different election than 2008, and I don't necessarily like our chances even if Hillary runs (and I don't like our chances at all with any other candidate). There are a large group of not particularly partisan voters who basically will think "OK, we gave Obama eight years...now it's time to give the other party a crack at it." However, at the end of the day, I think Cruz is running against Susana Martinez and Marco Rubio for Veep. I think their nominee will be either Christie, Walker, or Jeb. Christie is down right now, but I think he'll eventually emerge to be the guy. Walker will be dogged for not being a college grad (though that will appeal to some voters); the Bush name is still damaged goods; Christie is liked by independents, and the prospect that he could deliver Jersey and maybe also grab votes in NY and PA makes him appealing.

[underpants]

51. Well said. That is the real threat "Aw let them have it for a while"

This is basically an eight year election. What you posted is our biggest danger.

[DCBob]

58. Agreed, that will be a major factor.

Especially with many brainwashed by RW con news that Democrats are destroying the economy and weak on security the notion of "let them have it for awhile" sounds even more appealing to the low info voter.

Democratic strategists need to come up with some good solid arguments to counter that thinking.

[DemocratSinceBirth]

53. New York is not going red regardless of who the Democratic and Republican candidate are./NT

[Algernon Moncrieff]

138. After the 2014 midterms, I'd take nothing for granted.

[DemocratSinceBirth]

140. Mid terms and presidential elections always have dramatically different turnouts, ergo:

[world wide wally]

54. Not afraid of him winning, but he most likely will pull the country another notch to the right

[DemocratSinceBirth]

55. 1964 and 1972/NT

[Agnosticsherbet]

57. His use of a right wing populist appeal will gain him considerable support,

thought the Republican Parties history of nominating candidates perceived as center right in order to appeal to independents and the center is likely to doom him to a noisy has been.

I am not laughing him off. History is goes against his open right wing religious zealotry.

[Kalidurga]

59. I can't laugh off Ted Cruz

cuz I am too busy laughing at him. He is a clown and I think even a lot of people in red states will see him as a clown once he starts talking.

[malthaussen]

62. Any candidate can win.

We ignore this at our peril. Those who think the more extreme their candidate is, the better for ours, is more interested in showing off how clever they think they are then observing the reality all around them. In my opinion.

-- Mal

[DemocratSinceBirth]

67. He's a 125-1 dog at the gambling houses

http://www.predictwise.com/politics/2016president

[99Forever]

69. As Robert A Heinlein put it:

"Never under estimate the power of human stupidity."

[Capt. Obvious]

70. But he can't be President

He's not a natural born citizen.

[Hekate]

76. When liberal law professor Alan Dershowitz says he's "off the charts brilliant" I cease to laugh

I read that in the LA Times a couple of years ago, but this is the link I find this morning so it will have to do.

http://dailycaller.com/2013/05/09/dershowitz-tex-cruz-one-of-harvard-laws-smartest-students/

Remember that thing someone said about Baby Caligula aka Dubya? "He's not stupid, but he thinks we are." Well that would be Cruz, only "off the charts brilliant."

In college he argued law from a libertarian viewpoint, so Dershowitz was a bit surprised at the conservative turn he's taken in public life.

I'm not surprised, at this point. He is obviously aiming for Power, not intellectual credibility and not the good of the people. Understimate this man at your peril.

[tridim]

79. Brilliant people don't lie every time they open their mouth.

Why is Dershowitz so easily swayed by liars?

[Hekate]

90. Alan Dershowitz is a brilliant man himself, and a liberal. He's not "swayed" by Cruz, then or now...

He made an observation from his own experience as one of Cruz's professors. Would you rather Dershowitz told us liberals a comforting lie, to wit: "Cruz is a clown, pay no attention to him"?

Here's my observation: A person who knowingly lies every time he opens his mouth isn't stupid. He's a sociopath.

Funny thing about intelligent sociopaths: our system rewards them hugely. They can be charismatic and rise all the way to the top in both business and politics.

[tridim]

93. I didn't say he was stupid, I said he's nowhere near "Brilliant".

Dershowitz' observation is naïve at best. Pathological liars lie, that's it.

Cruz is not brilliant and he is not a brilliant liar. Dershowitz is wrong.

And BTW, Dershowitz is a hero on Breitbart.com today for trashing Obama's efforts at peace with Iran. Such a lovely guy.

[charliea]

78. Mr. Cruz evokes another name in my mind

and no, its not Joe McCarthy. For those old enough to have read the science fiction of my youth, two words: Nehemiah Scudder.

Remember, they only have to win once.

[LWolf]

80. Laughing?

No, not "laughing off." There's nothing funny nor entertaining about sick people. Spending my time thinking about him or worrying about him? No, not doing that, either. I, unlike the majority, simply am not willing to give him that kind of power.

When there is a Republican nominee, I'll pay more attention. I won't obsess over that nominee, still not giving up that kind of power, but I'll pay more attention.

Until then, I've got many other things to occupy my time.

[NCTraveler]

82. I don't hink he is anywhere near stupid.

With his background I think he is a concern. Strong base Ready to get him off the ground? Check. Background that helps him to resonate on stage? check. Media willing to overlook his extreme stances while willing to allow him to narrate coverage? check.

[Diclotican]

83. TDale313

TDale313

Before Bush jr - I would have been laughing about mr Cruz - after 8 year with Bush - and the result of that catastrophe - I'm not sure if I would laugh about mr Cruz - it is better to take him bloody seriously, what he states and what he want to do if elected president.. Many who believed Jr to be a dofus - and never be electable - and was going to bed that election night - believing US had chosen the sane over the insane one... And then wake up - and discover US had elected the insane over the sane one...

And - I would also say - never underestimate the stupidity of american voters... We got a hard warning from the election of mr Bush - not one time - but twice... About the stupidity of americans voters.... I do hope they elect one who at least is sane - but never underestimate the ignorance and outright stupidity of american voters - not 2000....

Not that everyone is stupid - but I do hope you all know the sentiment....

Diclotican

[zentrum]

85. Ain't laughing.

Actually, with the way elections are gerrymandered so that a minority can have more influence than is democratic, I think it may be downright grim.

[yeoman6987]

118. Gerrymandering only affects the House

Definitely not the Presidency especially.

[zentrum]

160. Yes.

I wrote sloppily. I meant the situation that can sometimes happen where a President can win the majority of the popular vote and still lose because of the way the Electoral College is formulated. This system is linked, in my mind, to the reason they created gerrymandering——both are ways to tilt an election in such a way that the majority is robbed of the clout it should have.

Thanks though.

[Nay]

87. Actually, I DO think he's stupid. But that doesn't mean he can't win, or that he wouldn't be

totally dangerous if he did win.

I think he'd be just as effective an asshole as, say, the rich preachers who can keep the widows' money rolling in by oratory and hate of the Other.

[turbinetree]

88. U.S SUPREME COURT

Elections have consequences and if any right wing republican, libertarian, tea party, or third way politician gets elected people have got to understand its about the supreme courts and federal courts if everyone does not see this, then look no further when Thomas and Scalia , Roberts, and Alito and Kennedy when they were put on that bench, we have seen the gutting of the EPA, voter rights, labor laws, people are corporations, privacy rights, campaign finance oligarchy laws ect....the list goes on and on, and if you can name something off the top of your head this right wing majority has enacted a law against you, the public, this is what a activist court does, and if the right wing thinks progressive do it, it, is because they have to roll back the right wing extreme and the damage they have done
And has far has this man called Joe (McCarthy) Cruz , I am just trying to find out if his PAC is called the Pinhead PAC, he and the rest of them have no platform except hate and fear, they are supported by billionaires and millionaires and then the sucker base.

[jwirr]

89. I never laugh off an R. They have a lot of money to buy them whatever they want. We have already

seen that.

[Martin Eden]

91. It's no laughing matter that millions of voters want him to be president.

It's a measure of the ignorance of the voting public, and that is not "ha-ha" funny.

[The_Commonist]

92. Frankly, it wouldn't surprise me if he ends up as our next (and probably last) president.

He's that dangerous.
He will be ruthless in eliminating his competition.
Seriously, he's the kind of guy who will destroy the entire planet and everyone and everything if he can't get what he wants.

He's driving the clown car now, since he was the first one to jump in and grab the wheel.
Laugh at your own risk.

[2naSalit]

98. I agree with that sentiment...

this could well be our last election allegedly "by the people". I thought 2000 would be the last, I keep waiting for that shoe to drop.

[Hekate]

95. Charismatic sociopath. I'm not laughing. nt

[wryter2000]

97. Not laughing here

More like quaking in my boots. I remember when we all laughed at Ronald Reagan getting the nomination.

[arcane1]

99. He doesn't seem so smart to me, and I predict his smarmy face will get old fast.

And when the general public finds out more about him (like his dad's prediction that Ted will become king and inherit all the world's wealth), the more fiercely he will be rejected.

[maindawg]

100. It only guarrantees a dog fight

Let these idiots compete to see who can be the craziest thats what they do. There will be 7 idiots pandering the biggest group of idiots in the world the tea bagger vote.You could not have made this up. 25 years ago when the GOP went off the rails wil Newt Gingerich, you could not have predicted that the GOP would spiral this far out of control.
There are very red states who send these people to Washington to basically disrupt the Government and if they can enrich themselves through whatever ratchet they dream up so be it.
Ted Cruz is crazy. He is a tea bagger sent to disrupt and thats what he will do as a candidate.

[Kelvin Mace]

101. Not a stoneball's chance on the Sun

that he can win.

Yeah, he will appeal to the barking mad wing of the party, but the establishment (read: Money) conservatives LOATH him.

[bravenak]

102. I laugh at him like I laugh at Ted Bundy or Jim Jones. Not at all.

[bvf]

105. Not laughing here.

Not a chance in hell he'll be the nominee, but he'll shore up religious nut-job support and then throw it to the front-runner as he exits the race.

[Warpy]

107. He might look like Bill Murray after a bender

but he's an incredibly dangerous man. He's been raised his whole life to act out his daddy's fantasies, he has little grip on reality, and he's rabid and single minded about who his daddy has told him to hate--which is most of us.

He's also Richard Nixon on steroids with all the paranoia, the total lack of either ethics or morals, and without the love of country Nixon had going for him.

[demwing]

112. I don't think he'll even win a single state primary

He's oily and sniveling, like a 2nd tier televangelist

[brooklynite]

113. Disagree

The bible thumper vote is still very small, and he's polling very poorly in the Republican Primary pool.

[dbackjon]

114. Yup -not laughing at all. He is a serious threat

[project_bluebook]

115. I just wish Canada would quit dumping their waste in the US

[Autumn]

119. I laughed off Bush. Not going to do that again.

[TDale313]

121. Yeah, same here.

Laugh at him? Absolutely. Think he's too ridiculous to have a shot? Not a chance.

[yuiyoshida]

120. I think he is dangerous...

tbh...

[Golden Raisin]

122. Nothing would surprise me.

However I think the powers that be and big money brokers will ensure that the nomination goes to one of the more standard-issue, more "acceptable" right-wing contenders. On another topic entirely, am I the only one who sees a remarkable and rather creepy/disturbing facial resemblance between Senator Cruz and the late Senator Joseph McCarthy of Wisconsin?

[TDale313]

134. No, you're not the only one.

He's McCarthy-esque in more ways than one.

[ProfessorGAC]

123. Four Words For Ya!

Ronald Reagan George Bush (43)

If those two maroons can get elected, anything is possible.

[randome]

139. Reagan was 'destined' for the Presidency.

Even in the 60s in a couple of Get Smart episodes, they made jokes about an actor becoming President. They were talking about Reagan.

Bush, Sr. rode the coattails of Reagan.

Bush, Jr. was something like a 500 year flood. A fluke.

Cruz hasn't a chance in hell. But I agree with what others say, it doesn't pay to be complacent.
[hr][font color="blue"][center]TECT in the name of the Representative approves of this post.[/center][/font][hr]

[ProfessorGAC]

144. Then We Disagree

And i don't agree with your analysis. "We" elected Reagan when Carter was a good president. Americans are stupid
And, i never mentioned 41
And 43 beat Gore? Because americans are stupid. Just like i said
I think you're missing the point completely.

[Initech]

124. He can't be president! It's very clearly defined by the constitution!

[dgibby]

131. He's a U.S. citizen

by virtue of the fact that his mother is a citizen. It doesn't matter where he was born.

[Hekate]

136. That's one problem with the Birther crap about Obama: the lie about our system sticks....

Both Obama and Cruz are citizens by birthright -- one parent of each is a born citizen of this country. So what if Cruz was born in Canada? He's a US citizen from birth onwards.

The canard about Obama was a lie from top to bottom, because Obama was born in the 50th State, period. all that dreck about his teenage mother's trip out of the country makes not one iota of difference because SHE was a citizen herself.

Let's not fall into the trap laid for us by the RW. They lie.

[Hulk]

125. Not a snowball's chance in hell....

I don't hold the voting populace in very high regard, but even with all the bat shit crazy teabaggers, bible-thumpers, racists, Obama-haters, and ignorant fox drooling low-life's; not a chance of winning the GOPer nomination, let alone the White House.

I think if you want to consider "the sky is falling", or North Korea is planning to invade the West Coast, etc....fine; worry all you like. In my opinion, it's a total waste of time and energy to fret this turd ball is going to go anywhere!

On the positive side, he is going to siphon off millions from the loons and other parts of the repuKKKe party loyals; and in the end he is going to expose himself as a complete clown to even the ardent reich wingers. The teabaggers are the curse to the repuKKKe clan. They expose, rather clearly, just how completely bat-shit crazy and out of touch with reality these turd balls really are.

In my opinion again, I think he is doing the Democrats a real service by demonstrating just how crazy his strain of teabagger is to the American future. Let him dance and spew his creamy message of hate, contempt, illusionary vision to the relatively sane element of the independent and repuKKKe party faithful. He is doing us all a favor.

There will be staunch supporters, just like the goof-ball rand paul has his sub-culture; but they are NOT to be feared; only pitied.

No threat....only twisted, sad entertainment. Even his own party challengers will carve him up in the open in the primaries. I won't lose a minute of sleep over this sewer trash. Nada!

[DonCoquixote]

130. not that I think he will win

thougth the powers that be will glaldy have him. I think the real danger is that he will firmly pull the party to the right, which means good news for Scott Walker, who can then emerge as the last man standign between jeb and Ted. If that happens,this nation is Koch inc. which is to say, Toast.

[cheapdate]

132. I'm not laughing.

He could easily win the GOP nomination, where his refusal to compromise, no matter what the cost or consequences, will be viewed by many as a strength that sets him apart from the field.

He could be a powerful candidate in the general election, uniting populists, nativists, evangelicals, libertarians, etc. The GOP establishment might not like him, but they'll support him in the end.

I'm not laughing. It's an awful prospect.

[Lil Missy]

133. I seriously doubt he'd be the nominee, but it would be great if he did.

I'm not worried about him, Not. at. all. He's too much of a nut case and arrogant jerk.

[Vinca]

135. I guess I'm in the minority . . . I'm definitely laughing.

And now I'm laughing even harder after just reading Trump is bringing back the birther movement re Cruz.

[BlueStater]

137. I don't underestimate anybody but, personally,...

...I don't think he has a prayer in hell of winning the nomination.

The nutjobs support him but they're just an extremely loud, obnoxious minority. He can't win with just their votes. The moderates think he's a loon and a self-serving egotist.

Don't count on him getting many endorsements either after the way he's alienated himself since coming to the senate. He's made a lot of powerful enemies. Most mainstream Republicans DESPISE him and will do whatever they can to keep him from winning.

[hifiguy]

141. He's crazy enough to make it with the goobers in the repuke primaries

but the Kochtopus already has placed its bets on Snotty Scotty Walker and the Establishment is gonna be behind Boosh III. Could be a VP nominee though.

[tabasco]

143. One of the saddest days in my life is when I realized that George AWOL Bush

was going to be president. Anything can happen in this corrupt, stupid country.

[Skittles]

155. I will remember that moment for the rest of my days

when he was running for governor here and I saw how fucking stupid he was, at first I wondered why he would even want to be governor and then it hit me, OMG, THEY ARE GOING TO MAKE HIM THE PRESIDENT

yup

[morningfog]

146. I'm not worried about him. It's sad that his vileness

will get a national platform, but the more the people get to know him, the more they'll dislike him.

[tblue37]

147. We mistakenly underestimted Reagan and W and their handlers (and overestimated

the competence of the American voter), so we need to be careful!

[Jamaal510]

149. With a balanced breakfast of green eggs and ham,

TC could definitely be a force to be reckoned with.

[Skittles]

152. STOP IT JAMAAL510

[Cha]

150. teabaggerted's not serious.. just wants the attention.

[Skittles]

151. he IS stupid

he is just a SPECIAL KIND of stupid

[ND-Dem]

153. definitely not stupid. and no i'm not laughing, he's scary. trained from the cradle

and his wife = goldman sachs and ties with the democrats.

and he looks like joe McCarthy.

[lonestarnot]

154. Snort...

ROFLMAO

[joshcryer]

162. HAHAHA

OMFG, HAHAHA!

Holy shit, no wonder the supposed left has literally no local level presence and the Republicans own local government all the way up to governorships and state legislatures.

Talk about giving them an inch. Geez.

[MADem]

163. He's polling at three percent. His "job" is to make Jeb appear reasonable by comparison. nt

[sendero]

166. He pisses off ..

.... his own "friends". No, I worry about a lot of things but I just don't see this style of religious insanity ever having a wide audience.

[Skittles]

167. he's a nutcase narcissist

given enough attention it's just a matter of time before he goes WAY off the rails