I don't care for it either - I'm looking to vote for a President of the United States, not Pastor of the National Church. But at the same time, with obvious caveats I think people are blowing the Religious Right fear far out of proportion - the worst example being Dr. Peikoff (for whom I retain a massive respect despite his naysayers,) elevating the religious threat to a higher level than the collectivist threat.

Those of us old enough to have lived and thrived through the Reagan years (I turned 18 just in time to cast my first vote for him in 1980,) saw what was the Religious Right at the height of its "powers" - Jerry Falwell running at full throttle, Ed Meese ingeniously finding an excuse to watch lots and lots of porn on the government dime, Tipper and Al Gore crusading for warning labels about lyrics on albums, etc.

The net result of that Religious Right frenzy, in terms of binding legislation passed, was exactly zero.

Unless you count the "Fair Housing Act" expansion of 1988, which removed the right of apartment owners to designate their properties as "adults only." I have had to endure screaming brats ever since as a result - the single worst choice President Reagan made, IMO.

Cruz' choice certainly mandates keeping an eye on the religious angle, but I think a huge factor in that choice was finding a friendly audience. The last thing he wanted was to have his campaign kickoff speech marred by protesters and to have that conflict splattered all over the media from the outset. "Liberty University" was a guaranteed safe bet in that regard.

Given Cruz' stated - and clearly believed - fidelity to the Constitution, at the worst you would have to think he'd get to a conflict point between the urge to religious governance and respect for the First Amendment. Ultimately, I look at the multitude of the man's convictions and his track record of activism for Constitutional governance as qualities persuasive enough for him to be my (current) vote-designate, and as reason to treat the specter of religiosity as a concern that can be pushed aside pending some concrete instance of him attempting to violate that First Amendment. At which point we have the assurance of opposition that would stop such an attempt in its tracks, and the ever-present opportunity to oust him should it happen.

To date he's the best candidate we have. I like Allen West better, but Cruz has more experience in the labyrinth of government and legislation, in wrestling with the collectivist opposition and applying finessed strategy thereto, and more demonstrable commitment to radical government de-clawing aside from national defense. I think Cruz-West 2016 would not only make a great ticket (because we can know with certainty we'll have serious terrorist activity from the moment a Republican President gets elected, also it would blow the Democrats' presumed handle on the Latino and Black vote to smithereens,) but because we need to vote not just for 2016 but for 2024 as well - and by then West will have gained the experience in government to make him an ideal successor. (But I digress on the wish list.)

Bottom line: If we're going to let the perfect be the enemy of the good, if we're going to reject candidates for making overt nods to religiosity, we're going to be waiting for an ideal candidate for a long, long time.

Cruz' religiosity does not worry me. Another RINO like Dole, Bush, McCain, Romney, Christie, Bush III or Romney II does worry me, lots. We have lost whatever "error buffer" we once had. We cannot allow another do-nothing placeholder to mark time until the next Democrat drags us further into the abyss.
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His campaign speeches and interviews sound like a demagogic preacher in style and mannerisms as well as explicit appeals to religion, all of which frightens a lot of people for good reason. He has taken a lot of good political positions -- far better than most in Washington -- and someone who filibustered a big increase in government spending by reading from Atlas Shrugged can't be all bad, but you have to wonder what his actual principles and their practical implementations are, and how he thinks in formulating decisions on practical matters. We don't find that out from his style of campaigning. His rejection of the Obama dictatorial collectivist agenda is very good, but it's not clear what he is for other than vague appeals to the Constitution.

Sorry, to some, like me, that filibuster made him a hero.

Comparing him to Sharpton is ridiculous.

Yes. He's all about stunts like that filibuster, which he thought would make him a hero but made most people see him as a buffoon.

Trying to repeal ObamaCare now (with a hostile president and not enough votes for an override) was another such stupid stunt, and so would be any attempt at impeachment.

"...a crime within a crime within a crime..." ~ Christopher Bollyn

https://youtu.be/Kc1lGqIGYSA

Yes, I understand, E. I was responding to XenokRoy's comment.
I hope you are right ;^)

FFA, my hope is not that Cruz gets the GOP nomination, or even that Cruz gets the Presidency by third party (Which neither he nor anyone else likely will).

My hope is that this is the beginning of an official party split which will leave the GOP establishment to fade into obscurity.

Any establishment malfeasance, up to and including assassination of a non-establishment candidate, will just hurry along the inevitable.
There is a wide demographic which sees the game clearly now and has had enough.

And, again, I agree with you, this will probably get real ugly.
I can only hope that it does not.

He will never make it through the election. His religious views really undercut his message. Sometimes I think we should just let the economy crash quickly and get it over with. This constant battling with the stupidity of socialism in all its forms is really wearing me down. Seeing as though its easier NOT to think than TO think, I say that it will take the destruction of civilization to really impact the masses of people to that socialism is discredited once and for all. I say that people in general know this is coming- hence the interest in zombie apocalypse and other post apocalyptic stories and films lately.

No problem, FFA.
A lot of people come to the same conclusion, and then I have to show the full poker hand.

I have a friend in CO who is GOP and is absolutely shocked that I *will not* vote for Jeb if he is nominated.

He says, "Then, get ready for Hillary."
To which I respond, "How many times do we have to do this? If Jeb or any other Establishment Crony Globalist is nominated, Hillary wins anyway! If you don't want Hillary, then don't nominate Jeb!"

It's way early, and anything is possible.

I think you might not be far off with this.
If a non-establishment candidate gets any kind of traction, it's going to get real ugly.

He can't get there unless he is GOP controlled via blackmail/coersion/power/money, and that virtually eliminates 3 as a possibility. Any attempt at 3 by a sitting president would result in assassination, real or character, which with media control would also eliminate 3.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T2TEq5Dh...

https://www.youtube.com/results?search_q...

Agree. Like anything we have to use our brains to make rational decisions.

Also agree about the Geography, but I think it is simply being used as a tool to attack Israel. Israel has over and over again given exactly what was asked of them and more was simply asked. They are now giving nothing, and I agree with it as well because they did compromise for peace and it failed. They would be fools to do so again.

As president

"The Al Sharpton of The Right"...
Twanna Brawley...
Freddy's Fashion Mart...
"Push back their yarmulkes"...
Seriously?

I was very disappointed in his I'm more conservative than anyone else stance. That and his venue choice seems to be pandering the the christian right. I thought we would see more of 'It's the Constitution stupid' from him. If he continues they way he started he will lose me.

Yes, I remembered this. I'm a Texan now. Stand for truth no matter the cost... So glad he is running :)

Somehow, I don't think his Cruz Missals will score any hits. ;-b

He's the Al Sharpton of the right. I'm not sure I want that.

A sandwich platter of cold blood? Who invited the zombies?

I'm kind of with you on this, Roy on this, but unequivocal support of Israel is wrong too. Israel is a lot more tolerant of muslims than they are of jews.

The West Bank is just silly One of those stalwart countries arguing against Israel needs to offer to move and house these people and half the problems will go away. The geography there is simply idiotic.

Not sure if he is electable against Hillary.

Nehemiah Scudder. All that needs to be said about Cruz.