Mark Shepard
We may have Donald Trump to thank
By Mark Shepard
Donald Trump has accomplished what few people could.
Donald has created a situation where go-along Republicans are coming to terms with the reality that their very survival is dependent on Ted Cruz. These are people that almost hate Ted Cruz, because Cruz would never bend to them. They have mischaracterized Cruz into someone that cannot get along, rather than someone who refused to go along. Ted Cruz has operated out of principle and integrity toward those who elected him. That is not the "Washington way."
But reality is starting to sink in. If Donald wins the GOP nomination, not only will the GOP be attached to every stupid comment out of his unbridled mouth, Hillary Clinton will be president, and the far-left Democrats will have solid control over the U.S. Senate and likely take the House of Representatives back. They will continue stacking the courts with people who want a new constitution and thus disregard the plain meaning of the one signed in 1787. Bye, bye Bill of Rights. Bye, bye America.
This is reality, folks. Marco Rubio is in a position to allow this madness to continue while very possibly losing his own state of Florida to Trump, who has been polling about 20 points up on Marco. That would likely end Rubio's political future. And you can be sure he is thinking about that.
Alternatively, Rubio could join with Ted Cruz and fight for Ted all the way to November and after eight years of Cruz pushing power out of Washington and back to the states and the people, rightfully demanding that Congress do its job of lawmaking, and allowing only originalists to get on the Supreme and other federal courts, Rubio can run for president again as part of the team that saved America from the destruction of socialism. If you want Rubio for president, then encourage him to join with Cruz and keep his path open for the future. Don't let him fall on a sword that has any chance of nominating Donald Trump.
As for Trump supporters, they mostly break down into three categories:
By stark contrast, Ted Cruz has done as he said he would, and it has been no small task. Ted did not go to Washington to make friends or to make enemies. He went to Washington to help save our nation from collapse. And he never left that post. There was no blind-faith, hoping for the best, for those who voted for Ted Cruz. Ted Cruz earned every vote by putting real action to his campaign promises.
The bottom line is we may actually have a lot to thank Donald Trump for at the end of this messy process. But there is not a lot of time to waste trying to save our nation with less likely paths. And taking this to a brokered convention has little positives. If the candidate who won the most delegates does not come out of the convention, there will be repercussions at the polls in November and not just for the presidential candidate, but for all Republicans. The time to move is now!
(Please understand that I write this not as someone who loves the Republican Party. Yes, I did run and serve as a Republican. But to get there I had to fight and beat the establishment in my first primary. And after serving two terms in the state senate, when I ran for Congress, the state GOP did everything they could to cut me down, including endorsing my opponent, who had no prior affiliation with the Republican Party. The national GOP gave $400,000.00 to my primary opponent and sent Laura Bush, Barbara Bush, and John McCain to campaign for my opponent and against me. This was all done in the name of electability. She lost and liberal Democrat Peter Welch won. That is the story of electability. My point is that if anyone has a reason to be disgusted with the Republican Party, I do. But it would be wrong and counterproductive to go at any election from a vengeful perspective. A political party is simply a vehicle. I would much rather grab the steering wheel than blow off the wheels.)
© Mark Shepard
March 5, 2016
Donald Trump has accomplished what few people could.
Donald has created a situation where go-along Republicans are coming to terms with the reality that their very survival is dependent on Ted Cruz. These are people that almost hate Ted Cruz, because Cruz would never bend to them. They have mischaracterized Cruz into someone that cannot get along, rather than someone who refused to go along. Ted Cruz has operated out of principle and integrity toward those who elected him. That is not the "Washington way."
But reality is starting to sink in. If Donald wins the GOP nomination, not only will the GOP be attached to every stupid comment out of his unbridled mouth, Hillary Clinton will be president, and the far-left Democrats will have solid control over the U.S. Senate and likely take the House of Representatives back. They will continue stacking the courts with people who want a new constitution and thus disregard the plain meaning of the one signed in 1787. Bye, bye Bill of Rights. Bye, bye America.
This is reality, folks. Marco Rubio is in a position to allow this madness to continue while very possibly losing his own state of Florida to Trump, who has been polling about 20 points up on Marco. That would likely end Rubio's political future. And you can be sure he is thinking about that.
Alternatively, Rubio could join with Ted Cruz and fight for Ted all the way to November and after eight years of Cruz pushing power out of Washington and back to the states and the people, rightfully demanding that Congress do its job of lawmaking, and allowing only originalists to get on the Supreme and other federal courts, Rubio can run for president again as part of the team that saved America from the destruction of socialism. If you want Rubio for president, then encourage him to join with Cruz and keep his path open for the future. Don't let him fall on a sword that has any chance of nominating Donald Trump.
As for Trump supporters, they mostly break down into three categories:
- Democrats who have crossed over to help nominate the only Republican with higher unfavorables than Hillary Clinton.
- Anarchists who just want to take government down and destroy the Republican Party out of their own anger. Not that the anger is not justified, but anarchy is not a solution.
- A lot of good people who simply out of anger and frustration at politicians who say anything to get elected and then just do business-as-usual once elected. These folks are rightfully angry. I am angry. But Donald Trump is not for them. Ted Cruz is.
By stark contrast, Ted Cruz has done as he said he would, and it has been no small task. Ted did not go to Washington to make friends or to make enemies. He went to Washington to help save our nation from collapse. And he never left that post. There was no blind-faith, hoping for the best, for those who voted for Ted Cruz. Ted Cruz earned every vote by putting real action to his campaign promises.
The bottom line is we may actually have a lot to thank Donald Trump for at the end of this messy process. But there is not a lot of time to waste trying to save our nation with less likely paths. And taking this to a brokered convention has little positives. If the candidate who won the most delegates does not come out of the convention, there will be repercussions at the polls in November and not just for the presidential candidate, but for all Republicans. The time to move is now!
(Please understand that I write this not as someone who loves the Republican Party. Yes, I did run and serve as a Republican. But to get there I had to fight and beat the establishment in my first primary. And after serving two terms in the state senate, when I ran for Congress, the state GOP did everything they could to cut me down, including endorsing my opponent, who had no prior affiliation with the Republican Party. The national GOP gave $400,000.00 to my primary opponent and sent Laura Bush, Barbara Bush, and John McCain to campaign for my opponent and against me. This was all done in the name of electability. She lost and liberal Democrat Peter Welch won. That is the story of electability. My point is that if anyone has a reason to be disgusted with the Republican Party, I do. But it would be wrong and counterproductive to go at any election from a vengeful perspective. A political party is simply a vehicle. I would much rather grab the steering wheel than blow off the wheels.)
© Mark Shepard
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