# Ted Cruz Presidential campaign discussion thread **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Created:** [March 23, 2015, 2:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ted-cruz-presidential-campaign-discussion-thread/715774 "2015-03-23T14:47:58Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 34
**Author:** ![dalej42](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/67e7ee/32.png) [@dalej42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dalej42)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2016, 10:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ted-cruz-presidential-campaign-discussion-thread/715774/661 "2016-02-19T22:28:10Z")
I seriously thought this was from the Onion. Cruz and Carson have a secret meeting in a storage closet! Are they sure it wasn’t a gay sex hookup? > **[Report: Cruz, Carson met secretly in storage closet to discuss feud](https://thehill.com/blogs/ballot-box/presidential-races/270077-report-cruz-carson-met-secretly-in-storage-closet/)** > > Cruz made an attempt to smooth over their feud, according to a new report.  ---
**Author:** ![Smapti](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smapti/32/17938_2.png) [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2016, 10:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ted-cruz-presidential-campaign-discussion-thread/715774/662 "2016-02-19T22:45:53Z")
Some people are saying that [Ted Cruz might be the Zodiac killer.](http://uproxx.com/webculture/ted-cruz-zodiac-killer-phil-robertson/) Now, I’m _certainly_ not saying Ted Cruz is the Zodiac killer. I’m just saying a lot of people have questions about whether Ted Cruz is the Zodiac killer, and so far Ted Cruz has yet to publicly deny that he’s the Zodiac killer. And think about it - have you _ever_ seen Ted Cruz and the Zodiac killer in the same place at the same time? This is an important issue that Ted Cruz needs to address if he doesn’t want his possible status as the Zodiac killer to hurt him in the polls. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Pig](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c57346/32.png) [@Little\_Pig](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Pig)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2016, 11:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ted-cruz-presidential-campaign-discussion-thread/715774/663 "2016-02-19T23:03:48Z")
Cruz is Wise, Cruz is Good, [Trust Cruz.](http://thinkprogress.org/climate/2016/02/19/3751233/ted-cruz-public-lands-ad/) ---
**Author:** ![Rick\_Kitchen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rick_kitchen/32/522_2.png) [@Rick\_Kitchen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rick_Kitchen)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2016, 11:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ted-cruz-presidential-campaign-discussion-thread/715774/664 "2016-02-19T23:07:05Z")
> [@Little\_Pig](#): > > Cruz is Wise, Cruz is Good, [Trust Cruz.](http://thinkprogress.org/climate/2016/02/19/3751233/ted-cruz-public-lands-ad/) > [@](#): > > “If you trust me with your vote,” says Cruz in the ad, “I will fight day and night to return full control of Nevada’s lands to its rightful owners, its citizens.” But, but, but … I thought federal lands \*were \*owned by the citizens? ---
**Author:** ![DinoR](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dinor/32/2821_2.png) [@DinoR](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DinoR)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2016, 11:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ted-cruz-presidential-campaign-discussion-thread/715774/665 "2016-02-19T23:31:23Z")
Cruz and Rubio both made it through the [Indiana Election Commission](http://www.indystar.com/story/news/politics/2016/02/19/republican-presidential-candidate-marco-rubio-stays-indiana-ballot-commission-rules/80607168/) today and will be on the ballot. Rubio’s challenge was denied 4-0. The two challenges to Cruz were not unanimously rejected. They were decided by a 3-1 margin. ---
**Author:** ![SlackerInc](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slackerinc/32/275_2.png) [@SlackerInc](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SlackerInc)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2016, 1:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ted-cruz-presidential-campaign-discussion-thread/715774/666 "2016-02-20T01:53:25Z")
> [@LSLGuy](#): > > He (or his team) just loves dirty tricks, doesn’t he/it/them? They do. Here’s another one: [Cruz Campaign Pushes Photoshopped Image of Rubio Shaking Hands with Obama](http://www.mediaite.com/online/cruz-campaign-pushes-photoshopped-image-of-rubio-shaking-hands-with-obama/) That they would insist it’s a real photo is beyond…what? ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2016, 2:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ted-cruz-presidential-campaign-discussion-thread/715774/667 "2016-02-20T02:43:34Z")
> [@Rick\_Kitchen](#): > > But, but, but … I thought federal lands \*were \*owned by the citizens? You don’t live out there do you? I did for 10 years. About 85% of Nevada belongs to the citizens of the other 49 states. Only about 15% belongs to citizens of Nevada either directly as land owners, or via their pro rata share of the NV state government or prorata share of the Federal government. That is a very large issue, especially with the more right-leaning folks. To be sure, Cruz is pandering up a storm & has no intent or ability even as Pres to return much of Nevada’s Federal land to state, local, or private control. But he did correctly identify a real sore point around which to rally some anger. And anger is the R’s favorite food & drink. As well as their solution to every problem. ---
**Author:** ![PastTense](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pasttense/32/14550_2.png) [@PastTense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PastTense)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2016, 7:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ted-cruz-presidential-campaign-discussion-thread/715774/668 "2016-02-20T07:31:46Z")
> [@](#): > > A robocall dialed out to thousands of Republicans in South Carolina on Friday night suggested Donald Trump would advance “equality” for gays and lesbians by enacting a slew of new government regulations that would lead to “tearing down our America.” > > Just hours before polls opened for the GOP’s presidential primary in the state, the robocall — paid for by the pro-Cruz super PAC Courageous Conservatives — went out to 180,000 likely Republican voters in the state… > > The ad lists the predicted repercussions of the “forward motion” that Trump seemed to agree to. > > “It’s about mandatory celebration,” the narrator says. “It’s about forcing people to bake cakes and photograph gay weddings, forcing clergy to officiate, about transgender bathrooms in your child’s school. It’s about tearing down our Judeo-Christian values.” > > The ad then sharply states: "It’s about tearing down our America. Ted Cruz for president - now, before it’s too late. > **[Pro-Cruz Robocall Blasts Trump Over Gays 'Tearing Down Our America'](https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/2016-election/pro-cruz-robocall-blasts-trump-over-gays-tearing-down-our-n522201)** > > A robocall dialed out to thousands of Republicans in South Carolina suggested Trump would advance “equality” for gays and lesbians. ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2016, 2:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ted-cruz-presidential-campaign-discussion-thread/715774/669 "2016-02-20T14:07:45Z")
I predict it will be VERY effective at rousing the target audience his way. Which is of course his goal. ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2016, 2:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ted-cruz-presidential-campaign-discussion-thread/715774/670 "2016-02-20T14:27:49Z")
> [@Smapti](#): > > Some people are saying that [Ted Cruz might be the Zodiac killer.](http://uproxx.com/webculture/ted-cruz-zodiac-killer-phil-robertson/) > > Now, I’m _certainly_ not saying Ted Cruz is the Zodiac killer. I’m just saying a lot of people have questions about whether Ted Cruz is the Zodiac killer, and so far Ted Cruz has yet to publicly deny that he’s the Zodiac killer. > > And think about it - have you _ever_ seen Ted Cruz and the Zodiac killer in the same place at the same time? > > This is an important issue that Ted Cruz needs to address if he doesn’t want his possible status as the Zodiac killer to hurt him in the polls. Lest it be overlooked, I should like to point out that there is no Scriptural basis to insist that he cannot be both the Zodicac Killer and the AntiChrist. Also, to suggest that if he really is the Zodiac Killer, Virgo would be an excellent choice to be erased, as grammar Nazis and OCD tidy-freaks are disproportionally Virgo. ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2016, 2:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ted-cruz-presidential-campaign-discussion-thread/715774/671 "2016-02-20T14:30:31Z")
But astrology is the work of the Devil. Don’t cross \*those \*beams or the audience’s heads will asplode. ---
**Author:** ![SlackerInc](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slackerinc/32/275_2.png) [@SlackerInc](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SlackerInc)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2016, 3:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ted-cruz-presidential-campaign-discussion-thread/715774/672 "2016-02-20T15:24:15Z")
I still wonder if he risks getting that “liar” tag stuck to him. ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2016, 5:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ted-cruz-presidential-campaign-discussion-thread/715774/673 "2016-02-20T17:47:43Z")
IMO that depends on who sticks it there. If Fox & e.g. Rubio do so it has a good chance of sticking. If CNN or Hillary does, it’ll be seen as a badge of honor to have attracted such a smear from The Enemy. It certainly won’t carry its plain meaning of “Cruz is a lying liar you can’t trust about anything.” ---
**Author:** ![SlackerInc](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slackerinc/32/275_2.png) [@SlackerInc](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SlackerInc)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2016, 7:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ted-cruz-presidential-campaign-discussion-thread/715774/674 "2016-02-20T19:07:22Z")
For sure. What about Trump? ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2016, 10:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ted-cruz-presidential-campaign-discussion-thread/715774/675 "2016-02-20T22:53:59Z")
IMO Trump and Cruz are sort of a three-legged race team. The rejectionist wing of the R party consists of folks who like Trump & detest Cruz, folks who like Cruz & detest Trump, and folks who like them both for their rejectionism but prefer one over the other for some specific mix of details that matter to each voter individually. So each of Trump and Cruz has one “leg” made of their own supporters and one “leg” where they’re currently sharing the bag of “could go either way but prefer T/C” supporters. Each one’s goal is simple: cut the other guy’s leg out of the bag & hog all his supporters. Then you’ll have two free legs, one of which just got more muscular, and the other guy’s got one leg and a bloody stump and will quickly be left behind. I’m not in deep enough to know how big each of those three branches are. They don’t break down on the conventional soft-right, medium-right, hard-right, frothing-loonie-right spectrum. They slice the pie along different dimensions. How bad labels might stick to Cruz is going to differ depending on which of the legs we’re talking about. Trump is especially interested in the soft supporters in the bag. Him successfully convincing the angry folks who only softly support Cruz that Cruz is conning them, is an establishment shill, and Trump will deliver the real rejectionist goods would be very powerful. That’s Trump cutting Cruz & leaving Cruz to bleed out through his stump. OTOH, Cruz’s deep supporters in his other leg won’t abandon him while there’s still a breath left in his campaign. For those folks Trump’s labeling attempts will bounce off Cruz almost as well as Hillary’s will. ---
**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:** [February 21, 2016, 3:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ted-cruz-presidential-campaign-discussion-thread/715774/676 "2016-02-21T03:21:53Z")
> [@running\_coach](#): > > As much as I despise the man, I agree he’s eligible. > [This article](http://www.vox.com/2016/2/18/11058038/ted-cruz-court?ref=yfp) does point out that Cruz wouldn’t be eligible under the original wording of the Constitution. That’s one of the best summaries of the Constitution’s “natural born citizen” ambiguity I’ve ever read. Thanks. ---
**Author:** ![NetTrekker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/nettrekker/32/2909_2.png) [@NetTrekker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NetTrekker)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2016, 4:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ted-cruz-presidential-campaign-discussion-thread/715774/677 "2016-02-21T04:33:35Z")
> [@BubbaPickles](#): > > There are two things that always pop into my mind when I see or hear Ted Cruz. The first is the word ‘smarmy’, it just seems like the perfect description for his looks, his demeanor, and his attitude. The second is ‘Funeral Director’, because based on the first impression he seems like an ideal candidate to be one. And what’s with the goofy chuckle after every phrase during a speech? It’s creepy. ---
**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2016, 4:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ted-cruz-presidential-campaign-discussion-thread/715774/678 "2016-02-21T04:42:12Z")
> [@NetTrekker](#): > > And what’s with the goofy chuckle after every phrase during a speech? It’s creepy. I think he thinks it’s “folksy”. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2016, 2:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ted-cruz-presidential-campaign-discussion-thread/715774/679 "2016-02-24T14:16:22Z")
[Cruz removes some of the merchandise from his website.](http://www.racked.com/2016/2/23/11101754/ted-cruz-hillary-clinton-bernie-sanders-presidential-merch?ref=yfp) > [@](#): > > Gawker notes that Cruz was forced to pull an entire section from his website after it was discovered that the artist behind the [apparel, buttons, and posters](https://web.archive.org/web/20150928232220/https://store.tedcruz.org/product-category/sabo/) was a\*\* horribly offensive and racist\*\* street artist named Sabo. The merchandise featured tatted-up versions of Cruz and a poster with the tagline, “Straight Outta Congress.” Nice background checking there. And this guy is supposed to lead the nation? ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2016, 2:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ted-cruz-presidential-campaign-discussion-thread/715774/680 "2016-02-24T14:30:01Z")
I think the real takeaway from that article is that Cruz’ lawyers are giving Super PACs instructions and talking openly about it. Aren’t they supposed to pretend to not be coordinating? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ted-cruz-presidential-campaign-discussion-thread/715774.md?page=33) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ted-cruz-presidential-campaign-discussion-thread/715774.md?page=35)