Now that Texas Sen. Ted Cruz has thrown his cowboy hat into the ring for president, it's time to commence handicapping the candidates, even if some of us might want we had more options.
That is OK, my fellow Americans. You vote for — or against — the selections you have. Do you hear me, progressive-wing Democrats begging Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren to challenge Hillary Clinton?
Ted Cruz and the born-once more GOP Steve Chapman President Dwight Eisenhower signed the bill producing "In God We Trust" the nation's official motto, but his approach to religion was not excessive in its rigor. "Our type of government has no sense unless it is founded in a deeply felt religious belief," he after declared, "and I do not care what... President Dwight Eisenhower signed the bill creating "In God We Trust" the nation's official motto, but his method to religion was not excessive in its rigor. "Our type of government has no sense unless it is founded in a deeply felt religious belief," he once declared, "and I never care what... ( Steve Chapman )
Clinton, who hasn't run for workplace due to the fact 2008, could use the competitors to sharpen her pitch. But no one on the left appears to be ready, viable or properly-funded enough to take her on. So let's concentrate on the elephants, whose herd of presidential wannabes seems to develop bigger by the day.
In the past, I have predicted however a further "Bush versus Clinton" race in 2016, as in Jeb versus Hillary. I'm sticking to that prediction. I also caution that eight years ago at this time I, like several other folks, was predicting a Hillary Clinton vs. Rudy Giuliani ballot.
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That's why I am not going to rule out any dark horse. The unpredictability of the American voter reigns supreme, reassuring us all that large revenue, strategists and spin doctors have not entirely taken more than the method.
With that in thoughts, Cruz is noteworthy for setting the terms of debate within the Republican Party as it tries to return to the White Property right after eight years out of office — and right after losing the well-liked vote in five of the final six presidential elections.
To paraphrase a popular song, Cruz is all about that base — the Grand Old Party's conservative base.
In announcing his campaign at Liberty University, founded by the late Rev. Jerry Falwell, who was a leader in the rise of the religious correct as a political force in the 1980s, Cruz declared his own war against the "mushy middle." That's his shot at the pragmatic conservatives who favor former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush, whose record only appears moderate subsequent to difficult-liners like Cruz.
Of course, what Cruz denounces as the "mushy middle" is what most people today would call a "winning majority."
By setting his kickoff at Liberty University, Cruz surprised several Republicans for the reason that he had not previously presented himself as a social or religious conservative like Mike Huckabee or Rick Santorum.
Even Ronald Reagan and George W. Bush, our most conservative presidents in modern times, left space for themselves to tack back toward the middle following their nominations to appeal to moderate swing voters. Alternatively of reaching out toward the political middle, Cruz is digging in with the far ideal.
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To compete with the nicely-funded small business and country club establishment that boosted John McCain and Mitt Romney and now favors pragmatists like Bush or Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker, Cruz appears to be turning to the populist foot soldiers of the tea celebration and religious correct. They will turn out to knock on doors, work telephones and raise millions by way of lots of tiny donations.
But despite all the hoopla that has been raised by Cruz's announcement, it has an aroma of desperation about it. His polling numbers have slumped, and resentments are increasing amongst quite a few of his fellow Republicans about his grandstanding.
A Quinnipiac University poll in late February of probably Iowa Republican caucus participants place Walker ahead of the pack with 25 %, about twice as high as his nearest rival, Rand Paul, who had 13 % assistance.
Close on Paul's heels was doctor Ben Carson and Huckabee, the former Arkansas governor, with 11 percent every single, and Jeb Bush with 10 percent.
Only 5 percent of respondents favored Cruz.
Cruz's popularity might have peaked throughout his filibuster and revolt against the implementation of the Affordable Care Act, much more broadly recognized as Obamacare. He boasts about his bold stands but is significantly less eager to bring up how little his grandstanding accomplished, except for a 16-day government shutdown.
With that in thoughts, Cruz's rivals currently are murmuring that a vote for Cruz is a vote for Hillary Clinton. For GOP voters who miss obtaining a single of their own in the White Property, an old query returns: Do you want to make a point or elect a president?
Clarence Page, a member of the Tribune Editorial Board, blogs at http://ift.tt/1pNYHRC. "Culture Worrier," a collection of his most effective columns, is accessible in print and at http://ift.tt/19qJ12o.
cpage@tribpub.com
Twitter @cptime
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