Sad.
In its understandable and commendable desire to stop Donald Trump, National Review has endorsed Ted Cruz.
Cruz, like Donald Trump, is unelectable. He has never to my knowledge renounced his Dominionist heritage or his father's claim that he is one of God's anointed "End Time Kings" ordained to "redistribute the wealth."
Making Leviticus American civil law? Redistributing the wealth? These are not hallmarks of a conservative of any kind, and especially a Constitutional conservative. Cruz needs to address these things.
But beyond that, he simply doesn't play well with others. He is cordially despised by his fellow members of the Republican Senate caucus, and his inflexibility does not bode well for his dealings with the leaders of other nations. And his "shut down the government" crusade, as well the spectacle of his personal and rather a bizarre filibuster against something that wasn't going to be enacted in any case, has made him the poster child for the very partisan obstructionism which the American people so despise in Congress.
Bad move, NR.
Despite the efforts of Drudge, CNN, and other sites shilling for other candidates, three polls have confirmed that Marco Rubio has cut his deficit in half in the Florida caucuses next week. Rubio beat Donald Trump in the early voting by 25 points. Rubio isn't dead quite yet, and if he wins Florida- especially if John Kasich also wins Ohio- it will be a very different ball game not only in terms of Il Duce's prospect of getting the delegates he needs to be nominated but in terms of the delegate count. And unlike either Trump or Cruz, Rubio can win. In fact, he's the opponent Hillary fears the most.
If Rubio loses, the best bet the GOP has would be an open convention, and the nomination of a fresh face who didn't run this year and everybody can rally behind. But Ted Cruz is not the answer.
Still, one thing can be said for Cruz. As Lutheran theologian Jack Kilcrease as pointed out, Cruz is, at worst, another Goldwater. If he's nominated he GOP would lose the presidency, probably lose the Senate, and, of course, lose what humanly speaking is our last shot at saving the Supreme Court and the Constitution and reversing or altering Obergefell v. Hodges and Roe v. Wade. But as was the case in 1964, the Party could go about the process of picking up the pieces and rebuilding toward an almost certain victory in 2020.
But If Trump is nominated, it may be the end of the Republican party. Certainly there will be a moral stain on the Republican brand it will take a generation to wear away.
It has to be admitted that if the GOP nominates Cruz while it will lose the election and a great deal more, it will at least not lose its soul.
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