# Does Beto O'Rourke have a chance to oust Ted Cruz? **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Created:** [February 2, 2018, 12:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-beto-orourke-have-a-chance-to-oust-ted-cruz/807987 "2018-02-02T00:12:31Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 36
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2018, 8:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-beto-orourke-have-a-chance-to-oust-ted-cruz/807987/701 "2018-10-14T20:04:30Z")
> [@DSeid](#): > > IF Beto was **way** ahead and had no need for the dollars then sure - spread the largesse. Passing money donated to the cause of helping HIM beat CRUZ to others who the donors had no specific intent to help instead of helping fund the possibility of his upset win, long shot though it may be? Damn I’d be pissed if I had donated specifically to that cause and he did that. Honest question: Is it legal for a politician to give money donated to him to another politician instead? Wouldn’t that violate some election finance law or other, like the one that limits that amount of money one person can donate to another person’s campaign? I guess I can see rolling it into some Democratic Party fund that is not directed at a specific candidate, but otherwise, wouldn’t he’d be limited to giving a small amount of money to other candidates? I don’t see how that could make any difference. ---
**Author:** ![Lance\_Turbo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lance_turbo/32/6156_2.png) [@Lance\_Turbo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lance_Turbo)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2018, 8:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-beto-orourke-have-a-chance-to-oust-ted-cruz/807987/702 "2018-10-14T20:23:38Z")
> [@John\_Mace](#): > > Honest question: Is it legal for a politician to give money donated to him to another politician instead? Wouldn’t that violate some election finance law or other, like the one that limits that amount of money one person can donate to another person’s campaign? Directly, [$2000](https://www.fec.gov/help-candidates-and-committees/making-disbursements/making-contributions-other-candidates/). But they can also donate to PACS, political parties, charities, etc. ---
**Author:** ![JRDelirious](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jrdelirious/32/9531_2.png) [@JRDelirious](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JRDelirious)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2018, 11:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-beto-orourke-have-a-chance-to-oust-ted-cruz/807987/703 "2018-10-14T23:31:37Z")
> [@MandaJo](#): > > Another reason to spend the money in Texas is that he’s going to help flip the house. Even if he doesn’t drum up enough enthusiasm to win, I feel like there’s a good change that mid-term turnout for Democratic voters is going to be higher than it would be usually–and that’s critical. For instance, Pete Sessions (Texas-32) didn’t even face a challenger in 2016, and now he’s neck-and-neck with Colin Allred. Texas-32 has been trending bluer for some time, and Allred has also been running a good campaign (and is a good candidate) but if he wins, it won’t be by much, and it’s not going to hurt at all to have Beto fanning general enthusiasm. True. Myself I know enough that I can give to a candidate AND I can give also to the Democratic (or Republican) National Congressional Campaign Committee which does pool money to support various districts nationwide, but someone in Texas who could not do that would be justified in expecting that funds given to a Texas candidate will be used at least trying to get out the vote statewide and may have other downballot races gain collateral benefit. The National Parties as such have become quite useless in the role of supporting candidate prospects, it is really something _the parties_ have to deal with because it means the up and coming figures owe little to an “establishment” that, to the contrary, expects \*them \*to raise cash on its behalf. ---
**Author:** ![ThelmaLou](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thelmalou/32/390_2.png) [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2018, 12:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-beto-orourke-have-a-chance-to-oust-ted-cruz/807987/704 "2018-10-17T00:28:28Z")
Is tonight’s debate televised? Anyone watching? ---
**Author:** ![Aspenglow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aspenglow/32/76_2.png) [@Aspenglow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aspenglow)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2018, 12:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-beto-orourke-have-a-chance-to-oust-ted-cruz/807987/705 "2018-10-17T00:45:36Z")
It’s being rebroadcast here on C-SPAN at 9:00 p.m. my local time (PDT). I don’t find any station that’s running it live, though. Will have to keep up through this thread. ---
**Author:** ![ThelmaLou](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thelmalou/32/390_2.png) [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2018, 1:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-beto-orourke-have-a-chance-to-oust-ted-cruz/807987/706 "2018-10-17T01:14:43Z")
I’ll check back here later. I don’t have cable and the only OTA channel I get is PBS. Anyhoo, I can’t bear to watch this stuff live. I’m grateful that those of you with stronger constitutions (as it were) are willing subject yourselves for the good of the order. ---
**Author:** ![ThelmaLou](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thelmalou/32/390_2.png) [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2018, 1:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-beto-orourke-have-a-chance-to-oust-ted-cruz/807987/707 "2018-10-17T01:38:25Z")
There might be live coverage here: > **[Live coverage: Cruz faces O’Rourke in Texas debate showdown](https://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/411706-live-coverage-cruz-faces-orourke-in-texas-debate-showdown/)** > > SAN ANTONIO — Sen. Ted Cruz (R) and Rep. Beto O’Rourke (D) face off in a debate on Tuesday night as a hotly contested Texas race enters its final stretch.The debate is likely to be the last face-to… ---
**Author:** ![Precambrianmollusc](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/precambrianmollusc/32/63_2.png) [@Precambrianmollusc](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Precambrianmollusc)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2018, 1:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-beto-orourke-have-a-chance-to-oust-ted-cruz/807987/708 "2018-10-17T01:41:48Z")
It’s on 11 in Houston. Tried watching but whenever Cruz talks I want to damage the TV. . ---
**Author:** ![Tangent](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tangent/32/3098_2.png) [@Tangent](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tangent)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2018, 1:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-beto-orourke-have-a-chance-to-oust-ted-cruz/807987/709 "2018-10-17T01:50:47Z")
I’m recording it, will comment later. ---
**Author:** ![I\_Love\_Me\_Vol.I](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/i_love_me_vol.i/32/521_2.png) [@I\_Love\_Me\_Vol.I](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/I_Love_Me_Vol.I)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2018, 9:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-beto-orourke-have-a-chance-to-oust-ted-cruz/807987/710 "2018-10-17T09:30:33Z")
> [@MandaJo](#): > > Another reason to spend the money in Texas is that he’s going to help flip the house. Even if he doesn’t drum up enough enthusiasm to win, I feel like there’s a good change that mid-term turnout for Democratic voters is going to be higher than it would be usually–and that’s critical. For instance, Pete Sessions (Texas-32) didn’t even face a challenger in 2016, and now he’s neck-and-neck with Colin Allred. Texas-32 has been trending bluer for some time, and Allred has also been running a good campaign (and is a good candidate) but if he wins, it won’t be by much, and it’s not going to hurt at all to have Beto fanning general enthusiasm. I hadn’t considered this. You could end up having Democratic House candidates in Texas riding Beto’s coattails to victory. _Even if Beto himself loses._ ---
**Author:** ![ThelmaLou](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thelmalou/32/390_2.png) [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2018, 2:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-beto-orourke-have-a-chance-to-oust-ted-cruz/807987/711 "2018-10-17T14:29:33Z")
[**Trump attacks O’Rourke: ‘Beto is a Flake’**](https://thehill.com/homenews/administration/411792-trump-attacks-orourke-beto-is-a-flake) > [@](#): > > President Trump on Wednesday attacked Rep. Beto O’Rourke (D-Texas), calling him a “flake” and saying he “is not in the same league” as his opponent in the Texas Senate race, incumbent Sen. Ted Cruz (R). > > “Watched the debate last night & Beto O’Rourke, who wants higher taxes and far more regulations, is not in the same league with Ted Cruz & what the great people of Texas stand for & want,” Trump wrote on Twitter. “Ted is strong on Crime, Border & 2nd A, loves our Military, Vets, Low Taxes. Beto is a Flake!” > … > > Trump, who often attacked Cruz while campaigning against him in the Republican presidential primaries in 2016, added in a second tweet that Cruz “has done so much for Texas” and said O’Rourke “would blow it all.” > > “Ted Cruz has done so much for Texas, including massive cuts in taxes and regulations - which has brought Texas to the best jobs numbers in the history of the state. He watches carefully over your 2nd Amendment. O’Rourke would blow it all! Ted has long had my Strong Endorsement!” > … My underline. I guess it’s understandable that thump would not know the meaning of the word “long.” ---
**Author:** ![Steve\_MB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/steve_mb/32/5339_2.png) [@Steve\_MB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Steve_MB)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2018, 3:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-beto-orourke-have-a-chance-to-oust-ted-cruz/807987/712 "2018-10-17T15:42:40Z")
> [@ThelmaLou](#): > > saying he “is not in the same league” as his opponent in the Texas Senate race, incumbent Sen. Ted Cruz (R) “Did I not tell you how quick and resolute she was? Would she not have made an admirable queen? Is it not a pity that she was not on my level?” “From what I have seen of the lady, she seems, indeed, to be on a _very_ different level to your Majesty,” said Holmes coldly. ---
**Author:** ![eschereal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eschereal/32/18939_2.png) [@eschereal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eschereal)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2018, 11:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-beto-orourke-have-a-chance-to-oust-ted-cruz/807987/713 "2018-10-20T23:25:51Z")
pulling his punches [Beto](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7qDBS_sOaZ4&t=13m15s): _This is what you can expect over the course of this debate. Senator Cruz is not going to be honest with you. He’s gonna make up positions and votes that I’ve never held or I’ve ever taken. He’s dishonest. It’s why the president called him “Lyin’ Ted,” and it’s why the nickname stuck, because it’s true._ sure hope that sticks to the reptile (note: cued link) ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2018, 1:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-beto-orourke-have-a-chance-to-oust-ted-cruz/807987/714 "2018-10-22T13:25:44Z")
CNN Politics on Trump’s sweet revenge against Ted: [Donald Trump gets sweet revenge on Ted Cruz today in Texas | CNN Politics](https://www.cnn.com/2018/10/22/politics/donald-trump-ted-cruz-rally-texas/index.html) ---
**Author:** ![ThelmaLou](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thelmalou/32/390_2.png) [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2018, 1:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-beto-orourke-have-a-chance-to-oust-ted-cruz/807987/715 "2018-10-22T13:32:01Z")
> [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](#): > > CNN Politics on Trump’s sweet revenge against Ted: [https://www.cnn.com/2018/10/22/politics/donald-trump-ted-cruz-rally-texas/index.html](https://www.cnn.com/2018/10/22/politics/donald-trump-ted-cruz-rally-texas/index.html) In case you don’t want to read the whole article. Here are the last two paragraphs. > [@](#): > > …That reality is Trump’s ultimate revenge on all his former foes. This is HIS party now. They either need to recognize it and kiss the ring or run the risk of not having a job. And so, because they are politicians, they kiss the ring. (Or at least most of them do.) > > So, when he takes the stage in Houston on Monday night, Trump is doing so ostensibly to support Cruz. But Trump is also asserting his total control over Cruz – and that’s the part Trump likely enjoys more. ☹ ---
**Author:** ![Ashtura](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ashtura/32/2963_2.png) [@Ashtura](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ashtura)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2018, 5:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-beto-orourke-have-a-chance-to-oust-ted-cruz/807987/716 "2018-10-22T17:07:08Z")
> [@ThelmaLou](#): > > ☹ Ah, c’mon. You don’t find a humiliated Cruz is at least a little bit enjoyable? Can’t it be a win/win? ---
**Author:** ![ThelmaLou](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thelmalou/32/390_2.png) [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2018, 5:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-beto-orourke-have-a-chance-to-oust-ted-cruz/807987/717 "2018-10-22T17:26:08Z")
> [@Ashtura](#): > > Ah, c’mon. You don’t find a humiliated Cruz is at least a little bit enjoyable? Can’t it be a win/win? Okay, my sad face was vague. The sad face was about the Pubbies now being thump’s personal harem, poised to do his bidding and kiss his \ anytime he crooks his pinkie. As for humiliation, thump rubbing Rafael’s face in the fact that Ted needs him isn’t ENOUGH humiliation of Ted Cruz to satisfy me. I’d like to see Ted dressed in a pink tutu with clown makeup on locked in a cage in front of the Texas Capitol building with large screen video all around him replaying thump’s repeated insults interspersed with Ted’s LIES. Okay, no. Let me revise that. Tutu, yes. Clown makeup, yes. Capitol, yes. But I want it to be a dunking booth, so people can line up by the hour to deposit him in a vat of Shiner beer. ---
**Author:** ![Tangent](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tangent/32/3098_2.png) [@Tangent](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tangent)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2018, 6:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-beto-orourke-have-a-chance-to-oust-ted-cruz/807987/718 "2018-10-22T18:06:08Z")
It really is disappointing that so many of my fellow Texans–those that call themselves conservatives and are also some of the loudest and ‘proudest’ about the independent spirit of Texas–are in the thrall of a New Jersey con man and are giving their full support to a Texas Senator who was humiliated by said con man and now grovels at his feet. Is this Bizarro World? ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2018, 6:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-beto-orourke-have-a-chance-to-oust-ted-cruz/807987/719 "2018-10-22T18:20:49Z")
Texas has always been that way. They’re loud precisely because they have so little to be proud of. Remember, this is also the state whose proudest historical moment is getting their asses whupped in an unnecessary battle. ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2018, 6:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-beto-orourke-have-a-chance-to-oust-ted-cruz/807987/720 "2018-10-22T18:30:04Z")
At least the rivers don’t catch fire! They just fester and stink, but no blazing! “Cleveland, city of lights, city of magic…” - Randy Newman [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-beto-orourke-have-a-chance-to-oust-ted-cruz/807987.md?page=35) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-beto-orourke-have-a-chance-to-oust-ted-cruz/807987.md?page=37)