# 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:** 4
**Author:** ![wonky](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wonky/32/393_2.png) [@wonky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wonky)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2015, 4:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ted-cruz-presidential-campaign-discussion-thread/715774/61 "2015-03-24T16:29:03Z")
> [@Bone](#): > > Thank you. > > So, anti-gay, against ACA, and from the first link a global warming denier. 2 out of 3 are pretty poor. But are there things that really distinguish him from his other cohorts, so much so that he is worse than the other potential candidates? It’s not like holding these positions is unique among the right. According to the stat heads at 538, he appears to be strikingly more conservative than the other candidates. In fact, he’s strikingly more conservative than any Republican candidate ever. > **[Let’s Be Serious About Ted Cruz From The Start: He’s Too Extreme And Too...](https://fivethirtyeight.com/features/lets-be-serious-about-ted-cruz-from-the-start-hes-too-extreme-and-too-disliked-to-win/)** > > Texas Sen. Ted Cruz’s newly minted presidential campaign is the media equivalent of a juicy rib-eye that robbers use to distract a guard dog during a heist. He’… Interestingly, the only candidates with more conservative voting records are the Pauls. That could mean that the scale is wonky and defines libertarianism as conservatism (since they lean libertarian in public statements), or could mean that their “libertarian leaning” is just so much bs and that they are purely conservative. ---
**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:** [March 24, 2015, 4:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ted-cruz-presidential-campaign-discussion-thread/715774/62 "2015-03-24T16:34:11Z")
> [@adaher](#): > > We can’t elect a President who thinks that compromise, even on small points, is a crime against principle. That pretty much leaves out the GOP. ---
**Author:** ![Velocity](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/velocity/32/18006_2.png) [@Velocity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Velocity)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2015, 4:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ted-cruz-presidential-campaign-discussion-thread/715774/63 "2015-03-24T16:34:16Z")
Cruz isn’t the Texas senator I wanted to see run for the presidency. ---
**Author:** ![adaher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/dec6dc/32.png) [@adaher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/adaher)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2015, 4:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ted-cruz-presidential-campaign-discussion-thread/715774/64 "2015-03-24T16:36:28Z")
> [@running\_coach](#): > > That pretty much leaves out the GOP. Lindsey Graham has a long history of working well with the other side. Christie too. ---
**Author:** ![iiandyiiii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iiandyiiii/32/7924_2.png) [@iiandyiiii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iiandyiiii)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2015, 4:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ted-cruz-presidential-campaign-discussion-thread/715774/65 "2015-03-24T16:38:18Z")
Graham: nearly always wrong, especially on war and foreign policy, but at least he’s wrong sometimes with Democrats. ---
**Author:** ![adaher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/dec6dc/32.png) [@adaher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/adaher)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2015, 4:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ted-cruz-presidential-campaign-discussion-thread/715774/66 "2015-03-24T16:41:04Z")
Good one. A lot of Republicans would agree with you. But if you’re that worried about war and peace issues you might want to check out who one of his partners often was from about 2001-2008, voting with him nearly every time. It wasn’t Ted Cruz. ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2015, 4:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ted-cruz-presidential-campaign-discussion-thread/715774/67 "2015-03-24T16:43:28Z")
Ah! Another tantalizing homework assignment from **adaher**! He _could_ just tell us, but that would be too easy… ---
**Author:** ![adaher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/dec6dc/32.png) [@adaher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/adaher)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2015, 4:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ted-cruz-presidential-campaign-discussion-thread/715774/68 "2015-03-24T16:45:20Z")
It’s not homework. I know iiandyii knows, and I’m pretty sure you know. ---
**Author:** ![iiandyiiii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iiandyiiii/32/7924_2.png) [@iiandyiiii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iiandyiiii)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2015, 4:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ted-cruz-presidential-campaign-discussion-thread/715774/69 "2015-03-24T16:54:29Z")
> [@adaher](#): > > Good one. A lot of Republicans would agree with you. But if you’re that worried about war and peace issues you might want to check out who one of his partners often was from about 2001-2008, voting with him nearly every time. It wasn’t Ted Cruz. Was it someone who has since admitted they were wrong on Iraq? ---
**Author:** ![adaher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/dec6dc/32.png) [@adaher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/adaher)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2015, 4:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ted-cruz-presidential-campaign-discussion-thread/715774/70 "2015-03-24T16:58:38Z")
Aw, is that all it takes. She was also the main voice behind getting the administration to bomb Libya and has always taken the most hawkish position in internal administration debates. I guess her hawkishness is always smart hawkishness, while Graham’s is dumb, or something. ---
**Author:** ![iiandyiiii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iiandyiiii/32/7924_2.png) [@iiandyiiii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iiandyiiii)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2015, 7:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ted-cruz-presidential-campaign-discussion-thread/715774/71 "2015-03-24T19:28:18Z")
> [@adaher](#): > > Aw, is that all it takes. She was also the main voice behind getting the administration to bomb Libya and has always taken the most hawkish position in internal administration debates. I guess her hawkishness is always smart hawkishness, while Graham’s is dumb, or something. Hillary was wrong and admitted it. That’s a whole lot better than graham. Plus, I agree with her on a bunch of issues. It’s not about which candidate is great, none are. It’s about which is better. Graham is wrong and dumb on nearly everything. ---
**Author:** ![adaher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/dec6dc/32.png) [@adaher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/adaher)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2015, 7:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ted-cruz-presidential-campaign-discussion-thread/715774/72 "2015-03-24T19:30:36Z")
Yeah, but not all the Democratic, or even all the Republican candidates, are hawks. Cruz and Paul in particular have an isolationist streak. ---
**Author:** ![wonky](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wonky/32/393_2.png) [@wonky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wonky)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2015, 7:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ted-cruz-presidential-campaign-discussion-thread/715774/73 "2015-03-24T19:36:34Z")
Vote for Graham! He’s more like Hillary! ---
**Author:** ![adaher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/dec6dc/32.png) [@adaher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/adaher)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2015, 7:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ted-cruz-presidential-campaign-discussion-thread/715774/74 "2015-03-24T19:41:45Z")
On foreign policy, there’s very little disagreement between a mainstream Republican and Hillary Clinton. Cruz is less likely to get us involved in wars than Clinton or a mainstream Republican, so if that’s actually what is most important to you, then you’ll support Cruz. If other issues, like abortion or Social Security are more important, than by all means vote for Clinton. And frankly, despite their anti-war talk, I think most of the Democratic base cares more about economic issues. John Bolton is pro-gay marriage, which will get him perhaps two Democratic votes more than Jeb Bush would win. But as long as a Democrat checks the right boxes on economic and social justice issues, he can get away with a lot of unacceptable views. Witness “homosexuality is an abomination!” Robert Byrd, a progressive hero according to Daily Kos. War and social issues are secondary issues, which is why Clinton and Webb alike can strike out conservative views on those issues to try to win crossover votes, but would never stray on an issue like Social Security or health care or the minimum wage or taxes on the rich. ---
**Author:** ![iiandyiiii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iiandyiiii/32/7924_2.png) [@iiandyiiii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iiandyiiii)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2015, 7:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ted-cruz-presidential-campaign-discussion-thread/715774/75 "2015-03-24T19:59:59Z")
It’s not isolationist vs hawk, it’s dumb wars and dead soldiers for nothing vs diplomacy and reasonable engagement and occasional force. The republicans get an F-, the democrats get a D or a C-. ---
**Author:** ![iiandyiiii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iiandyiiii/32/7924_2.png) [@iiandyiiii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iiandyiiii)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2015, 8:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ted-cruz-presidential-campaign-discussion-thread/715774/76 "2015-03-24T20:02:02Z")
Graham as president means war wit Iran and thousands of dead Americans for nothing. Plus a guaranteed nuclear Iran in the long run, since we would never and could never occupy them indefinitely. ---
**Author:** ![adaher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/dec6dc/32.png) [@adaher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/adaher)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2015, 8:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ted-cruz-presidential-campaign-discussion-thread/715774/77 "2015-03-24T20:02:50Z")
And an apology makes the record less relevant? Has she shown any sign of actually learning anything? Was Libya smart? I think it was. She was the main voice pushing for the bombing. And guess who in the Senate agreed with the Libya action, putting aside partisanship? Yep, John McCain and Lindsey Graham. If Hillary Clinton is elected, Graham and McCain will be much more influential than they are now. If you wanted to marginalize them, electing Ted Cruz is a sure way to do it. Clinton, not so much. ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2015, 8:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ted-cruz-presidential-campaign-discussion-thread/715774/78 "2015-03-24T20:23:06Z")
Hillary and McCain might invade Iran. Cruz would invade Saturn. ---
**Author:** ![adaher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/dec6dc/32.png) [@adaher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/adaher)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2015, 8:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ted-cruz-presidential-campaign-discussion-thread/715774/79 "2015-03-24T20:25:06Z")
There’s nothing crazy about Cruz. He’s a very smart guy who has found his niche in politics. Bet he had better grades at Harvard than Obama. ---
**Author:** ![Ca3799](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/9f8e36/32.png) [@Ca3799](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ca3799)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2015, 8:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ted-cruz-presidential-campaign-discussion-thread/715774/80 "2015-03-24T20:53:12Z")
And now Ted Cruz will be shopping for some Obamacare since his wife is on leave from her executive position at Goldman Sachs for his campaign and she has been providing their healthcare (through her employer). > **[Ted Cruz Plans To Sign Up For Obamacare After Losing Blue-Chip Health Plan](https://talkingpointsmemo.com/livewire/ted-cruz-to-sign-up-obamacare-insurance)** > > Republican presidential candidate Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX), whose push to defund Obamacare led to a government shutdown, now plans to get insured through the federal exchange. "We will presumably go on… [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ted-cruz-presidential-campaign-discussion-thread/715774.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ted-cruz-presidential-campaign-discussion-thread/715774.md?page=5)