"Lucifer in the Flesh" encouraged Republicans to "vote their conscience," was booed, and...

[Miles Archer]

GOP senator Susan Collins: Why I cannot support Trump

50 Republican National Security Officials Eviscerate Trump In Open Letter

Ted Cruz May Get The Last Laugh If Donald Trump Implodes
The Texas senator’s decision to not endorse the GOP nominee is looking pretty good right now.
08/08/2016 05:02 pm ET

Pundits and politicians quickly pronounced that Cruz’s gambit had failed and that he had done serious damage to his political career. A CNN poll released after the speech showed his favorability rating within his own party cut nearly in half. Even his longtime billionaire benefactors, Robert Mercer and daughter Rebekah Mercer, said they were “profoundly disappointed” with his decision not to support the GOP nominee.



But after a week of Trump repeatedly setting himself on fire (declining even to wait for the previous fire to go out), politicians who endorsed Trump, such as House Speaker Paul Ryan (R-Wis.), have found themselves feeling the heat, while Cruz’s decision is starting to look like the better long-term bet. The panic within the party spread so much last week that several high-profile Trump supporters reportedly began contemplating staging an “intervention” with the candidate.

And Cruz, in rare fashion, has let the fire rage without adding his own gasoline. “He’s doing a remarkable job staying quiet and letting people come to that conclusion on their own,” said Amanda Carpenter, a longtime adviser to Cruz.

While those close to Cruz were confident the decision not to endorse would be the right one in the end, the quickness with which it’s panning out has been a bit of a surprise. “Trump blew his own convention. While predictable, it still boggles the mind it happened,” Carpenter said. “Trump is like a tornado. You know it’s going to be devastating when it rips through your house but the aftermath is still shocking.”

[Demsrule86]

1. Very interesting article thanks for posting.

Who would have thought Cruz would turn out to have principles of any sort? Trump is a monster, and I understand the GOP desperation (they brought it on themselves with years of hate mongering),but how could they even consider supporting such a person? He would have complete control over the nuclear codes.

[Dustlawyer]

2. Cruz has zero principles except what is best for Cruz.

Because he is not loyal to anything but himself he had no problem not endorsing the nominee. He is also smart enough to know Trump would lose and ballsy enough to pull his convention stunt. However, he only did the non-endorsement speech so he can set himself up as the bold leader who wasn't afraid to state Trump was going to be a failure.

[genxlib]

7. Agreed

Mo principles at work there. He is playing the game that no one runs against a sitting prez from your party. So a trump loss clears the deck for him in 4 years instead of 8

A principled man would have made his statement from elsewhere.

He negotiated for a speaking slot at the convention. That is some Machiavellian shit to maneuver close enough to sink the blade in to the hilt.

He is a dangerous combination of bad politics and maniacal ambition

[lastlib]

8. That last sentence says it all about Cruz.

Wish I could rec a reply post

[Demsrule86]

17. I know...that is why the greatest irony is that someone

as slimy as we both know he is...seems to be principled when compared to the rest.

[liberal N proud]

3. Sitting back and watch the fire burn

Has to be tough for a guy like Cruz who needs to be in the spotlight.

[Blue_Adept]

10. I'm impressed with his patience

You know his mindset is that he'll be the one to rise from the rubble and claim everything.

But yeah, it's gotta be hell for an inciter and agitator like him considering the way he composes himself in the Senate.

[Miles Archer]

14. Keeping quiet now is the smartest thing he could possibly do.

I can imagine his sense of pride and ego is off the charts right now, but standing back and letting the conscience of other high-profile Republicans like Tom Ridge...probably the most damaging denouncement of Trump...do the heavy lifting is Sun Tzu Art of War at its best.

He's a zealot, he's a person that should be allowed nowhere near the Oval Office, but his speech at the RNC, I believe, will go down in history as a political / strategic stroke of genius.

[tanyev]

4. Huh, I would have sworn that Ted Cruz was an I Told You So kind of guy.

Maybe he's also a Revenge is a Dish Best Served Cold kind of guy.

[bluedye33139]

5. I hope his 2020 slogan is "Hail, Satan!"

[Chicago1980]

11. It'll only be that while looking in the mirror practicing.

[bluedye33139]

16. lol

[LonePirate]

6. Cruz is positioning himself as the leader of the Republican Party if Trump is demolished in November

[Saviolo]

9. I hope that Cruz is in for a rude awakening

Because, while he did take a principled stance against Trump at the convention, he has also set himself up as the fall guy. The GOP could very easily look at him and say, "His non-endorsement at the convention is what really started the ball rolling on Trump's failure." If the GOP collapses and loses any political will for another 8 years, it's possible that they will look to Cruz not as a saviour but as the architect of that defeat.

And as much as I despise Trump, I feel like Cruz is vastly more dangerous in his own Dominionist way, and I would welcome the demise of his political career. Also, just hearing him speak sets my teeth on edge.

[maddiemom]

12. I agree with your closing statement and have long felt the same.

I wish your projection of Cruz being blamed for a Trump loss would come true, but fear it wouldn't bother Cruz in the least. He's used to everyone (including his own party) hating him and seems to thrive on it. Cruz will never quit in his presidential quest unless Texas Republicans thoroughly repudiate him and hand him a few humiliating defeats. The chances of that happening---it's Texas, after all---are between nil and zero (sic). I'm afraid Ted will be with us as long as he can draw breath.

[Saviolo]

13. Yeah, that's depressing

I think it will come down to some GOP strategist deciding that they need some high-profile patsy to take the fall for their failure. They're not going to want to risk the wrath of Trump on his way out the door, so I suspect that the final target will end up being someone like Cruz. Again, maybe it's a bit of wishful thinking, but he's positioned himself in a very precarious spot. On one side, he'll be the principled hero of the GOP. A no-nonsense strong Tea Party freedom caucus member who took a stand against Trump's dumpster fire, and on the other side he's a Benedict Arnold who declined to endorse Trump after being invited to speak at the convention when what the party really needed was a showing of unity and strength.

And of course, neither one of these things is true. Cruz is a pure opportunist who feels like he's been anointed to wield power by some divine right. A pure disciple of Reagan, Rand, and Jesus who must win because God is on his side.

Ugh, it's enough to turn my stomach.

[Miles Archer]

15. They are definitely going to be looking for a scapegoat

It will be a tall order to pin Trump's implosion solely on Cruz. Doesn't mean it won't happen, though.