tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8776899.post557472876632718823..comments2024-03-06T03:15:58.539-05:00Comments on <b>THE NEW REFORM CLUB</b>: Ted Cruz and the value of loyalty in a conservative partyHunter Bakerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14961831404331998743noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8776899.post-76326812825054307752016-07-22T09:07:52.397-04:002016-07-22T09:07:52.397-04:00Cruz attempted to protect down ballot Republican c...Cruz attempted to protect down ballot Republican candidates from the perceived defection of the segment of the voting public that is both very Republican and very anti-Trump. He did so in a manner that was more self serving than it needed to be. I agree that this will not help Cruz in the future unless Trump is either a tremendously horrible President (eg win scenario) OR the Trump candidacy guts the number of Republican representatives (eg lose scenario).Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8776899.post-64743547074444511532016-07-21T05:57:27.110-04:002016-07-21T05:57:27.110-04:00Good post. The precedents show that Ted Cruz faile...Good post. The precedents show that Ted Cruz failed as a politician in his decision. He put his personal ambition before the party. As I am not a politician, I can speak somewhat more freely. I am not bound by a party to the same extent that a politician is in particular one who seeks that party's nomination for a future run at being POTUS.<br />What Cruz has done is failed as what a politician must achieve, the ability to maintain flexibility and pursue a higher good. He will not derail Trump's candidacy and he will not gain the nomination. He has gained revenge by a political act akin to cutting off his nose to spite his face. Had he delivered a powerful speech, attacked Hillary, and endorsed Trump sotto voce he could have achieved everything he wanted. <br />He could have come out of this disaster of a convention as a powerful alternative, a statesman who was able to rise above the insults, the pettiness, and show Trump, the party, and America what statesmanship means. He could have done this with a powerful speech that, by its brilliance, would have overshadowed Trump's pettiness, petulance, and vindictiveness. Instead, he showed us his limitations, which he made painfully transparent on a national stage. <br />Cruz diminished himself and sabotaged his chance to be the Party's next nominee. No matter what happens with Trump, win or lose, Cruz will not gain any benefit from this speech. For if it succeeds in derailing Trump, then he is seen to have contributed to hurting the party. If Trump succeeds, then his speech looks even more of a spiteful, petty, sore loser. <br />Cruz has avenged his honor, his wife's honor, and his father's honor. He has lost his dignity and his chance to be the Party's nominee in 2020 or 2024. A man of powerful talent, a man of political skill, a man who would have been. Ted Cruz RIP.Lawrence Serewiczhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10951046729263663640noreply@blogger.com