The Texas Weekly/Texas Tribune Insider Poll for the Week of August
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The Texas Weekly/Texas Tribune insider poll for the week of August 12 INSIDE INTELLIGENCE: The Texas Weekly/Texas Tribune insider poll for 12 August 2013 INSIDE INTELLIGENCE: The Texas Weekly/Texas Tribune insider poll for 12 August 2013 INSIDE INTELLIGENCE: The Texas Weekly/Texas Tribune insider poll for 12 August 2013 Should Ted Cruz run for the Republican presidential nomination in 2016? • "Diversity of opinion is always a loses and becomes a laughingstock for good thing, it breeds debate." the nation!" • "I don't like it, but the stars are • "Just because it would be so much aligning up for him. He has electrified fun to watch him talk crazy!" the base like no one else. Now the reality is that Republicans will once • "Explain it to me like I'm a four year again lose another presidential race if old: how is he qualified? What’s his he gets out of the primary." experience? What's his legislative or executive or 'life' accomplishment(s)? • "If he's running to actually be How has he demonstrated he can elected President, then no, because I work with folks to achieve a common don't think he can win. If his goal is to goal?" stake out turf as a national conservative leader, then sure, why • "Please run! Dems need someone to not?" drive the R nominee to the right like Santorum did in 2012. It gives us more • "'Should he?' Yes. 'Do I want him room to operate in the middle." to?’ No" • "It's lunchtime and you just killed • "Maybe. Either Rubio or Cruz will my appetite with this round of be the next VP pick. If it looks like questions." Rubio plans to run, then Cruz may also need to run to be a viable VP • "Time will tell if the (Canadian- candidate or for a shot at a '20 or '24 born) freshman elected official presidential bid." becomes a good statesman, not the current Tea Party fervor encouraging • "He is a perfect psychopath for a him." party that stands for nothing." • "If he does, he might set a record for • "Presidential runs tend to reveal, for speed of meteoric rise and fall." better or worse, a lot about a candidate. Given his high office and • "Why not? A US Senator with less his lack of prior experience, it would experience than Cruz was elected be good to get a closer look at him." President in 2008 and serves as President today." • "Sure he should run... assuming he is actually eligible." • "We've already had one first time Senator become President and that • "Let everyone know how crazy he hasn't worked out too well for us." really is and embarrass all those folks who voted for him - oh wait, they • "He is a demagogue of the first won't be embarrassed, they will just rank." blame the 'liberal media' when he INSIDE INTELLIGENCE: The Texas Weekly/Texas Tribune insider poll for 12 August 2013 • "Cruz is woefully unqualified to be • "First things first. How about the Commander-in-Chief of the getting some experience in the first United States of America." term of a job he was just elected to do." • "It'd be hilarious." • "Sure, why not? On paper, he's the • "Why the hell not?" perfect candidate--smart, articulate, young, and Hispanic. And his • "Might find out how out of step libertarian leanings will attract with the rest of this democracy we voters." have become." • "Should as in 'would it be good for • "I think Cruz would fare very well America?' probably not. Should as in in the presidential nomination 'will he ever have a better chance?' I process, which says a lot about how think, if he has an hour, this may be out of touch with reality Republican it." primary voters in the early states are." • "As a Democrat, I would like • "Doesn’t have a prayer" nothing better than to see Cruz run and further alienate moderates. Cruz • "The GOP's Obama a first term is operating as if the Republican Senator, smart and who has never run presidential primary is akin to a Texas anything. Maybe a little bit more Republican primary. Good. Luck. seasoning? Is that asking too much?" With. That." • "Yes, please." • "Yes, so we can all enjoy the comedy and tragedy of it. Great theater." • "The more Ted Cruz is the national brand of Republicans, the better it is • "He might as well get a reality dose for Democrats anywhere in the sooner than later." country - except maybe Texas if he were actually nominated, and that's • "At the very least, it's good practice still a big 'if.'" for him. He's for real." • "He is so crazy he can't possibly • "The best time for him is 2016" win" • "Yes, please! Republicans already • "Why not? He'll either stand or fall. hate him, it'd be fabulous!" The Rs have fielded such dismal candidates the last couple of elections • "The TEA party threatens to destroy that he may have a shot. And he'll the Republican Party." chew Hillary up in a debate." • "He has no charisma. He is • "He has the right attitude but his interesting for a while, but eventually accomplishments are entirely lacking. more annoying than attractive." Then again, that didn't stop our current president..." • "The guy is solid, great speaker, he is really enjoyable." INSIDE INTELLIGENCE: The Texas Weekly/Texas Tribune insider poll for 12 August 2013 • "Ted Cruz is Dan Patrick with an • "Don't be ridiculous." additional 50 IQ points. He absolutely should run for Vice President." • "He's an embarrassment to Texas." • "I have a personal aversion to • "Stranger things have happened." extremism. He is an extremist." • "Oh yes, please. Please let him run." Which Texan do you think would do better in a Republican primary? • "Cruz is a fresh face, Perry has to • "Ted Cruz may be smarter; Rick many wrinkles." Perry is a much better candidate. I don't look for the errors in 2012 to • "Ted Cruz is now married to the repeat themselves." hard Right of the republican base. Perry has been out-righted." • "Scares the death out of me that I find myself pulling for Gov. Perry in • "Rick Perry is finished, whether he any head-to-head political matchup!" knows it or not. His recent gaffe, forgetting what state he was in, is just • "That's not much of a choice. Which the latest indicator that he is not one is the lesser if two evils?" national stage material." • "Cruz is MORE than an articulate • "We have no Texans qualified to run speaker. He has displayed the in the 2016 GOP Presidential COURAGE to stand on Constitutional primary." principles." • "Perry's national moment has come • "RP proved he is not ready for and gone. Cruz can best articulate the prime time the last run. But in the issues that primary voters will have end, neither can win. Too much on their minds in 2015-16 (federalism; spouting of nonsense!" big gov't)." • "One has state legislative and • "Better, but not well." executive experience (in a big state), served in the military, has done • "Rick has become that which he manual labor as a farmer, and has sought to replace, within that narrow real, honest-to-goodness achievements ideological context" and experience under his belt. The other is a career staffer, lawyer, and • "Ted Cruz would do better than has been U.S. Senator for less than a Perry but neither will win the year. On paper I know which of the Republican Party primary. And like two I would prefer." Perry, once Cruz is exposed in the primary process, his star will flame • "Cruz has the national spotlight, out quickly." gives the R party some 'diversity', and makes Perry look like Walter INSIDE INTELLIGENCE: The Texas Weekly/Texas Tribune insider poll for 12 August 2013 Mondale. The base loves Cruz. The • "I think Gov. Perry is a great leader. crazier he talks, the more they love But I just don't think voters on a him." national level like him." • "But that's not saying much is it?" • "The good old boys and girls will go with the good old boy." • "His stuff is all red meat." • "Ted Cruz, right-wing like the • "Record of job creation - which is primary electorate." what Americans really need." • "Neither have a chance." • "The current Republican primary voters seem to prefer demagogues." • "I prefer not to consider such calamity or comedy." • "While Ted Cruz is popular among the Texas tea-party type activists, his • "Perry appears lost and forlorn, not rhetoric will not be as well received in to mention lacking mental other parts of the country. At least candlepower, next to Cruz." Rick Perry has demonstrated an ability to successfully lead and • "Cruz, but not by much." achieve worthy accomplishments." • "Neither would help the ticket." • "As much as it may disappoint many Texans, the country is not that • "Rick Perry is not a viable national enamored with Texas leaders. Just candidate. Three reasons why: 1. He travel a little a little and let people blew it. 2. People outside of Texas find out you are from our great state." think he is a fool. 3. Oops..." • "Cruz, but he cannot get elected • "Maybe this would be better nationwide...." phrased as 'Which Texan do you think would get beat by less in a Republican • "Too much time ahead to tell at this primary?'" point." • "Smarts count for something, and • "New > old" unfortunately, one of these two can't count." • "Rick Perry couldn't win an election for dog catcher outside of Texas." • "Not sure any of them can win." • "Rick who? Ted Cruz, by a long shot." Do you think Ted Cruz could win the presidential race in 2016? • "Too young and inexperienced.