Jeb Bush Endorses Ted Cruz

 

I thought my iPad was hacked when the WSJ notification popped-up earlier this morning, so I searched the Internet. And what do you know? Jeb Bush endorsed Senator Ted Cruz for president this morning.

I am trying to wrap my head around what this means and how many fun scenarios or reasons there are to contemplate the why? and why now? For what it’s worth, Bush’s non-president brother, Neil, already endorsed Cruz and joined his campaign.

Bush’s endorsement of Cruz — while more robust than Mitt Romney’s last week — is also primarily about stopping Donald Trump:

Ted is a consistent, principled conservative who has demonstrated the ability to appeal to voters and win primary contests, including yesterday’s Utah caucus.

As I said from the moment I launched my presidential campaign, the stakes in 2016 couldn’t be higher.

Washington is broken, too many families are stuck in poverty and Western civilization is under attack from radical Islamic terrorists, as evidenced by the horrific attack in Brussels, which was preceded by attacks in Paris and California.

For the sake of our party and country, we must overcome the divisiveness and vulgarity Donald Trump has brought into the political arena or we will certainly lose our chance to defeat the Democratic nominee, most likely Hillary Clinton, this fall.

While the endorsements may appear luke warm and not-full throated backing of Cruz’s priorities or Senate tactics, I respect both governors for their constructive positive approach.

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  1. The Cloaked Gaijin Member
    The Cloaked Gaijin
    @TheCloakedGaijin

    What about those 70,000 to 80,000 Rubio votes in Arizona that came in third-place in front of Kasich?

    I think Kasich just got beat by a zombie…

    • #1
  2. BrentB67 Inactive
    BrentB67
    @BrentB67

    The Cloaked Gaijin:What about those 70,000 to 80,000 Rubio votes in Arizona that came in third-place in front of Kasich?

    I think Kasich just got beat by a zombie…

    I don’t know Arizona’s early voting laws and if the polls were open prior to Marco Rubio suspending his campaign.

    • #2
  3. She Member
    She
    @She

    Wow.  I kinda wish he’d endorsed Trump.  Hope it’s not the Kiss of Death . . .

    • #3
  4. Ball Diamond Ball Member
    Ball Diamond Ball
    @BallDiamondBall

    This ought to be magnificent to watch the talk-show Bushies fumbling for the eject.

    • #4
  5. Carey J. Inactive
    Carey J.
    @CareyJ

    That ought to finish Cruz off.

    • #5
  6. BrentB67 Inactive
    BrentB67
    @BrentB67

    She:Wow. I kinda wish he’d endorsed Trump. Hope it’s not the Kiss of Death . . .

    At this point it is just sliding farther into the theatre of the absurd while we stumble to the convention wherein Marco Rubio will be nominated on the 72nd convoluted ballot and somebody will prop Mitch Daniels or other moderate statesman up on stage next to him just prior to Hillary’s 40 state landslide and possible secession(s).

    Props to Bush and Romney for at least trying to do it the right way.

    • #6
  7. BrentB67 Inactive
    BrentB67
    @BrentB67

    Ball Diamond Ball:This ought to be magnificent to watch the talk-show Bushies fumbling for the eject.

    My guess is George and Jeb bullied brother Neil into joining the Cruz Crew and then when Neil reported back that they didn’t skin him alive and do not conduct animal sacrifices, etc. then Jeb dipped a toe in.

    George is probably at the ranch changing the locks and telling his brother’s that he got his already.

    • #7
  8. JRez Inactive
    JRez
    @JRez

    Brent, you gotta stop reading stories from The Onion so early in the morning.

    • #8
  9. She Member
    She
    @She

    BrentB67:

    Ball Diamond Ball:This ought to be magnificent to watch the talk-show Bushies fumbling for the eject.

    My guess is George and Jeb bullied brother Neil into joining the Cruz Crew and then when Neil reported back that they didn’t skin him alive and do not conduct animal sacrifices, etc. then Jeb dipped a toe in.

    George is probably at the ranch changing the locks and telling his brother’s that he got his already.

    OTOH, perhaps we’ll find out if this so-called establishment really does exist.  I think the next 48 hours will be interesting.

    • #9
  10. BrentB67 Inactive
    BrentB67
    @BrentB67

    She:

    BrentB67:

    Ball Diamond Ball:This ought to be magnificent to watch the talk-show Bushies fumbling for the eject.

    My guess is George and Jeb bullied brother Neil into joining the Cruz Crew and then when Neil reported back that they didn’t skin him alive and do not conduct animal sacrifices, etc. then Jeb dipped a toe in.

    George is probably at the ranch changing the locks and telling his brother’s that he got his already.

    OTOH, perhaps we’ll find out if this so-called establishment really does exist. I think the next 48 hours will be interesting.

    The veil will be pulled off in Cleveland.

    • #10
  11. Lucy Pevensie Inactive
    Lucy Pevensie
    @LucyPevensie

    I have no idea whether these moderate endorsements will actually sway moderates. But they are a great comfort to those of us conservatives who are only late and reluctant Cruz supporters.

    • #11
  12. BrentB67 Inactive
    BrentB67
    @BrentB67

    JRez:Brent, you gotta stop reading stories from The Onion so early in the morning.

    It is either the Onion or log into Ricochet and find out I am an idolatraus Trump supporter because I don’t salt the ground he walks in.

    A man’s gotta pick his entertainment while the oatmeal simmers.

    • #12
  13. JRez Inactive
    JRez
    @JRez

    Just imagine: if Gilmore throws in with Jeb!, all 127 supporters they have between them could actually go to Cruz.  Hey, it could happen.

    Without a dream, the people perish.

    • #13
  14. Lucy Pevensie Inactive
    Lucy Pevensie
    @LucyPevensie

    So if Trump gets to 1237, you will vote for him?

    • #14
  15. BrentB67 Inactive
    BrentB67
    @BrentB67

    Lucy Pevensie:I have no idea whether these moderate endorsements will actually sway moderates. But they are a great comfort to those of us conservatives who are only late and reluctant Cruz supporters.

    I don’t have any idea either. I am realistic about these endorsements. These endorsements say the best way to prevent Trump from securing the nomination is to ensure the only other person with a mathematical opportunity to earn the nomination does so.

    • #15
  16. BrentB67 Inactive
    BrentB67
    @BrentB67

    Lucy Pevensie:So if Trump gets to 1237, you will vote for him?

    I am on the record being on the fence. I don’t view the presidency in a vacuum. If he is the nominee I will consider polls and predicted configuration of Congress before deciding if/how I will vote in the general.

    We use the touch screen voting machines here and I am not sure how we go about writing someone in, ask for paper ballot maybe?

    • #16
  17. Mr. Dart Inactive
    Mr. Dart
    @MrDart

    BrentB67:

    JRez:Brent, you gotta stop reading stories from The Onion so early in the morning.

    It is either the Onion or log into Ricochet and find out I am an idolatraus Trump supporter because I don’t salt the ground he walks in.

    A man’s gotta pick his entertainment while the oatmeal simmers.

    That’s why I switched to instant oatmeal. 90 seconds… you can’t get into too much trouble.

    • #17
  18. Mike H Inactive
    Mike H
    @MikeH

    BrentB67:

    Lucy Pevensie:So if Trump gets to 1237, you will vote for him?

    I am on the record being on the fence. I don’t view the presidency in a vacuum. If he is the nominee I will consider polls and predicted configuration of Congress before deciding if/how I will vote in the general.

    We use the touch screen voting machines here and I am not sure how we go about writing someone in, ask for paper ballot maybe?

    I think there’s an option where you can type it in.

    • #18
  19. BrentB67 Inactive
    BrentB67
    @BrentB67

    Mike H:

    BrentB67:

    Lucy Pevensie:So if Trump gets to 1237, you will vote for him?

    I am on the record being on the fence. I don’t view the presidency in a vacuum. If he is the nominee I will consider polls and predicted configuration of Congress before deciding if/how I will vote in the general.

    We use the touch screen voting machines here and I am not sure how we go about writing someone in, ask for paper ballot maybe?

    I think there’s an option where you can type it in.

    Interesting. I will check it out next time.

    • #19
  20. Valiuth Member
    Valiuth
    @Valiuth

    (inhales deeply)

    ESTBLISHMEEEEEEEEEEEEEEENNNNNNNNNNNNNNNT!!!!!

    • #20
  21. BrentB67 Inactive
    BrentB67
    @BrentB67

    Valiuth:(inhales deeply)

    ESTBLISHMEEEEEEEEEEEEEEENNNNNNNNNNNNNNNT!!!!!

    They appear to be coming around, no?

    • #21
  22. Mike H Inactive
    Mike H
    @MikeH

    BrentB67:

    Mike H:

    BrentB67:

    Lucy Pevensie:So if Trump gets to 1237, you will vote for him?

    I am on the record being on the fence. I don’t view the presidency in a vacuum. If he is the nominee I will consider polls and predicted configuration of Congress before deciding if/how I will vote in the general.

    We use the touch screen voting machines here and I am not sure how we go about writing someone in, ask for paper ballot maybe?

    I think there’s an option where you can type it in.

    Interesting. I will check it out next time.

    Keep in mind, write-in votes are only counted if they go to a qualifying write-in candidate.

    • #22
  23. BrentB67 Inactive
    BrentB67
    @BrentB67

    Mike H:

    BrentB67:

    Mike H:

    BrentB67:

    Lucy Pevensie:So if Trump gets to 1237, you will vote for him?

    I am on the record being on the fence. I don’t view the presidency in a vacuum. If he is the nominee I will consider polls and predicted configuration of Congress before deciding if/how I will vote in the general.

    We use the touch screen voting machines here and I am not sure how we go about writing someone in, ask for paper ballot maybe?

    I think there’s an option where you can type it in.

    Interesting. I will check it out next time.

    Keep in mind, write-in votes are only counted if they go to a qualifying write-in candidate.

    Fascinating. How is it determined who is qualifying? Is this just the basic Constitutional qualifications? I assume it probably varies by state.

    This would be a very interesting post if you have time.

    • #23
  24. JRez Inactive
    JRez
    @JRez

    Mr. Dart:That’s why I switched to instant oatmeal. 90 seconds… you can’t get into too much trouble.

    Dang.  I should have signed up for this “not too much trouble for at least 90 seconds” program a LONG time ago….

    • #24
  25. Mike H Inactive
    Mike H
    @MikeH

    BrentB67:

    Mike H:

    BrentB67:

    Mike H:

    BrentB67:

    Lucy Pevensie:So if Trump gets to 1237, you will vote for him?

    I am on the record being on the fence. I don’t view the presidency in a vacuum. If he is the nominee I will consider polls and predicted configuration of Congress before deciding if/how I will vote in the general.

    We use the touch screen voting machines here and I am not sure how we go about writing someone in, ask for paper ballot maybe?

    I think there’s an option where you can type it in.

    Interesting. I will check it out next time.

    Keep in mind, write-in votes are only counted if they go to a qualifying write-in candidate.

    Fascinating. How is it determined who is qualifying? Is this just the basic Constitutional qualifications? I assume it probably varies by state.

    This would be a very interesting post if you have time.

    I think you become a write in candidate if you miss the deadline to be on the ballot but get your application in before a later deadline. I think people greatly misunderstand write-in stuff. You can’t make some kind of political point by writing in whatever name you want. It just gets lost to the ether.

    • #25
  26. Mike H Inactive
    Mike H
    @MikeH

    Requiring everyone to be a write-in candidate would be a great way to suppress voter turnout and increase the average competence of actual voters.

    • #26
  27. Mike H Inactive
    Mike H
    @MikeH

    A quick read of wikipedia implies it varies by state, like most things. So what I’ve said may really only apply to Ohio.

    • #27
  28. skipsul Inactive
    skipsul
    @skipsul

    BrentB67:

    JRez:Brent, you gotta stop reading stories from The Onion so early in the morning.

    It is either the Onion or log into Ricochet and find out I am an idolatraus Trump supporter because I don’t salt the ground he walks in.

    A man’s gotta pick his entertainment while the oatmeal simmers.

    That’s why I start my morning by eating crow.

    • #28
  29. skipsul Inactive
    skipsul
    @skipsul

    Mike H:Requiring everyone to be a write-in candidate would be a great way to suppress voter turnout and increase the average competence of actual voters.

    No, you’d just get a bunch of Hollywood nitwits written in.  Kim Kardashian would end up a senator.

    • #29
  30. BrentB67 Inactive
    BrentB67
    @BrentB67

    Mike H:A quick read of wikipedia implies it varies by state, like most things. So what I’ve said may really only apply to Ohio.

    Still very interesting and I appreciate your input.

    • #30
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